YOUR AD HERE »

Traffic stop near Eagle yields 30 pounds of meth and cocaine

Vail Daily Staff Report

On Thursday, Nov. 17, just before 2 p.m. the Gore Range Narcotics Interdiction Team (GRANITE) contacted a vehicle for traffic violations on I-70 near the town of Eagle.
 
Contact was made with the driver and passenger, indicators of further criminal activity were observed and a K-9 was deployed around the vehicle. His handler quickly observed an alert to the passenger side of the vehicle. Methamphetamine and cocaine were discovered inside two hidden compartments, underneath the front vehicle seats. Contents of the hidden compartments included 12 pounds of methamphetamine, and 18 pounds of cocaine as part of the investigation.

Each occupant of the vehicle, Fernando Paez-Parra, 32, of Sinaloa, Mexico, and Jose Luis Paez-Avila, 26, of Sonora, Mexico, is being held on a $100,000 bond and face several felony drug charges including:

  • Distribution of a schedule 2 controlled substance — methamphetamine, a class 1 drug felony
  • Possession of a schedule 2 controlled substance — methamphetamine, a class 4 drug felony
  • Distribution of a schedule 2 controlled substance — cocaine, a class 1 drug felony
  • Possession of a schedule 2 controlled substance — cocaine, a class 4 drug felony
  • Special Offender importation of cocaine, a class 1 drug felony
  • Special Offender importation of methamphetamine, a class 1 drug felony

The Gore Range Narcotic Interdiction Team is a multi-jurisdictional drug task force composed of local law enforcement partners and detectives from the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and the Vail Police Department.
 
If you think you may have any information about the suspect(s) or this crime, please call the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office at 970-328-8500 or if you would like to remain anonymous you can call the Eagle County Crime Stoppers at 970-328-7007, 1-800-972-TIPS, or submit your tip online at p3tips.com or send a mobile tip using the free ‘P3 Tips’ mobile app.  If your tip leads to the arrest and indictment of any suspect involved, you could earn a CASH reward from the Eagle County Crime Stoppers. 
 
People charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Steamboat and Routt County make the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.