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By Jackie Valley (contact) 
Published Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 | 11:21 p.m.
Updated Monday, Nov. 8, 2010 | 1:13 p.m.
Metro Police arrested two men at McCarran International Airport on Saturday afternoon after seizing more than $1 million of black tar heroin in the largest bust of its kind in recent history, authorities said. Police on Sunday identified the two men.
Detectives responded to reports of suspicious baggage, which contained bundles of an unknown substance, at about 3:30 p.m. at the request of airport police, Metro Lt. Laz Chavez said.
Detectives determined the substance was heroin — about 7 pounds worth — bound for Indianapolis on a flight from Las Vegas with a layover in a Chicago, police said. The second suspect had luggage containing 5.6 pounds of heroin, officials said.
The drugs have a street value of $1.05 million, Chavez said. It was the “largest heroin seizure in recent memory,” he said.
The two men arrested were identified Sunday as Jose Villarreal-Gazaviz, 31, from Nayarit, Mexico, and Jessie Gallegos, 47, of Phoenix.
Chavez said the two suspects were not cooperating with authorities and were arrested. They face federal charges of distributing heroin and conspiracy to distribute, authorities said.
Metro’s narcotics K-9 unit responded to the incident and a dog “alerted” on the bags, police said. Metro detectives are continuing the investigation with the help of the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Chunky says:
The stuff that killed Ted Binion... supposedly!
Definitely big league dope!
That's what Chunky thinks!
Chunky, you mean "Definitely big league dopes" -- unless you weren't referring to the two mules that got caught and will be spending a few years as Nevada's guests!
Great job Metro and airport police.
Does black tar heroin resemble black tar?
good job metro some more scum bags off the streets
They are only here to work, do liberal minds call making money selling drugs work?
The "War on Drugs"...
has killed so many innocent people over the past few years, you HAVE TO WONDER;
Why do we continue to use the same failed policies to fight it?
It's way past time to flush the current strategies and start with a fresh perspective;
As long as America has a VORACIOUS APPETITE for illegal dope, there will be CRIMINALS WILLING TO SUPPLY IT.
We're fighting this battle from the WRONG END!!!
Ah, the Arizona connection again. This and other issues are what that beleaguered state has been fighting. I personally think every state needs to do what Arizona has done. I'm so glad that two more creepy people are being taken off the streets of the US.
Have these guys never heard of the train or bus?
Good work Metro including the K9,...and congratulations to airport police who alerted them.
As for the mules,...threaten them with freedom, that should make them cooperate. I'm guessing they are far safer in a cell than out running loose.
What do you think Chunky?
With the amount of profits involved in these operations you would think they would have enough money to avoid hiring dumb & dumbers all the time.They might as well have had a silver platter under their bags served up for the cops.They were only going to Indianapolis.No more international borders left to cross.You would think someone would think of a better way to get to Indiana than to go through a high security screening and x-ray process.Also can't get over the one's speeding 25 over the limit in their car carrying millions in drugs.Even with life in prison hanging over their heads,these guys can't slow down or use their brains.At this rate,the war on drugs is over.They didn't bother to raise the white flag,they basically hand over the war booty right to ya.
another good reason to secure our boarders....
Barak Obama states that he has not seen any problems at the border...
WOW Metro finds black tar heroin in the airport. How much of that will come up missing or has the true amount been reported inncorrectly already??? Cops are as dirty as the people they arrest or shoot in metros cases lately.
WHO supplied Binion with that alleged "H" ????
Hummmmmmmm, And what about one of those poor celebs that died from "nose candy?"
hummmmmmmm?
The crack investigators didn't go that far did they?
7 pounds, they probably picked it up for $79,000 from are "allies" in Afghanistan, probably from some one in the government.
They always pump up the value, by belching out some "divided up" retail value. Then they take all the kitchen knives, ceremonial daggers, muskets from over the mantles and lay them out on a table, making it look "dangerous."
Good diversion on the part of the drug cartels, while these "mules" were getting busted (probably set-up) the container full of "smack" rolled in on the I15.
Drug gangs win the drug war every-time. A non-story for the "news-managed" chumps.
Gotta agree with gmag on this one. We are fighting a losing battle. If we made drugs available with a prescription to anyone 18+, the violence would virtually disappear because the price would plummet. We could regulate and tax it. There is a lot of money to be made on both sides in the war on drugs. Taxpayers end up paying for futile enforcement. Availability does not mean everyone will use.
I just got a $40,000/year prison bill for each one.
The oatmeal and farina diet is best for these guys.
Look at the news...who is it that is comitting most of the crimes today..does illegal immigrants ring a bell! Wise up Ameirca. I already feel I live in a foreign country but maybe I should...they are all here.. and where is the work..outsourced overseas...why no crack down on illegal immigration..."corporate slave labor"
and Black Tar Heroin in not a street drug choice. Very small market, very few users. That is a lot of one $hitty drug.
Libra, do you seriously think that HEROIN should be legalized? I can kind of see the argument for marijuana, but heroin!?!
I guess we're all entitled to our own opinions.
they will post bond and be released by tuesday. See ya
If there wasn't a demand for narcotics, there would not be a supply, cartels would not exist. America can not even say no to CHEESEBURGERS, much less heroin. Why blame the supplier, ignoring our demand for oxycotin, cocaine, heroin, glue. booze, and dare I say it, gambling. America's problem is Americas demand. Cut the demand; cut the supply, not the other way around. Good job doggie.
"mred.7 pounds, they probably picked it up for $79,000 from are "allies" in Afghanistan, probably from some one in the government." Black tar comes from Mexico and not Afghanistan.
How stupid can some people be? In this day and age you're nuts to ship drugs on a plane!
They should have used airline employees. It would have made it thru easily!
Why didn't they simply drive it to Indy....yup, it definitely reeeeeks of a set-up.
the mugshots look like pictures of the same guy, before and after sampling the product!
I hope nobody has asked these two guys if they are U.S. citizens or not. I mean I wouldn't want to violate their civil rights.
Jose was just coming here to do work that Americans won't do. I understand that after he was Mirandized, he asked if it was too late to vote for Harry Reid.