Two Charged In 900-Pound Meth Bust In Minneapolis Tied to Mexican Drug Ring

Two men are in custody and charged in what could be the state’s largest drug bust in history, after nearly 900 pounds of methamphetamine was seized in Minneapolis this week.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino posted on X about the result of the bust on Tuesday afternoon, and hinted that the seizure was part of a larger effort targeting drug trafficking rings.

The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office followed up with a social media post confirming that its Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET) along with federal partners had been involved in the massive takedown, which it said was “possibly one of the largest meth busts in Minnesota history.”

Arrested were Joel Casas-Santiago, 46, of Minneapolis, and Guillermo Mercado Chaparro, 44, of Chicago. Each has been charged with one count of first-degree drug sales, and Mercado Chaparro is charged with an additional count.

The charging document states that a controlled drug buy took place in south Minneapolis over the weekend, with an undercover officer purchasing one pound of meth from an individual identified as Mercado Chaparro.

Following the controlled buy, officers watched Mercado Chaparro leave in a Toyota Tacoma truck and proceed to make other suspected drug deals.

A court order was obtained to place a GPS tracker on the Tacoma.

On Monday morning, officers observed Mercado Chaparro walk to the Tacoma, which was parked on the street in south Minneapolis. He then placed two large bags inside a Jeep, which was near the Tacoma. Mercado Chaparro then got into the Tacoma, and a second male, later identified as Casas-Santiago, got into the Jeep, and both vehicles left the area.

Surveillance was conducted on both vehicles for a period of time, and both suspects were later found inside the Jeep near 31st and Cedar Avenue, while the Tacoma was left unoccupied elsewhere in south Minneapolis.

Following warrant searches of the vehicles, authorities found 251 pounds of meth in the Jeep and 638 pounds in the Tacoma. There was also a document in the vehicle noting dates, vehicles, and dollar amounts which is suspected to be a drug ledger, along with a pill bottle in Mercado Chaparro’s name.

A statement by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said the retail value of the recovered methamphetamine is estimated to be $1.7 million, and neither defendant has local ties to the metro community. Both are associated with larger drug sale organizations in Mexico, the statement said.

Both defendants made initial court appearances on Wednesday. Both were granted public defenders, and interpreters were requested for their hearings. Bail was set at $2 million for each, and their next court appearances are scheduled for July 30 and Aug. 1, respectively.