Albuquerque police arrest two men in fentanyl delivery service

Mar. 21—It's like DoorDash or Uber Eats — but the only thing on the menu is fentanyl.

Police say they have twice arrested the delivery driver for a group of drug traffickers, with an organizational system akin to food delivery services, working in Albuquerque for bosses south of the border.

On Tuesday, police arrested two members of the alleged group — one of whom they already arrested last year, was released and never showed up for court.

In all, police have netted 4,700 fentanyl pills from the group since July , the majority purchased by an undercover detective.

Jesus Soto-Rojas, 33, and Jesus Vasquez-Acosta, 37, are both charged with several counts of drug trafficking. Soto-Rojas refused to answer questions, telling police he "feared for the safety of his family in Mexico."

Police said the organization is "comprised of several individuals" who have a "primary source of supply and boss" in Mexico. The boss communicates with a "dispatcher" in Albuquerque who coordinates drivers to deliver drugs, upon request, to those around the city.

Neither Soto-Rojas nor Vasquez-Acosta have been assigned a public defender.

Prosecutors are seeking to keep the men behind bars until trial, saying in a motion that they are "part of a large criminal organization that is engaged in the sale of fentanyl."

"Fentanyl is highly addictive and its users are extremely prone to overdose," according to the motion. "The traffic and use of fentanyl is a substantial driver of crime in our community."

Prosecutors with the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office did not seek to detain Soto-Rojas when he was arrested in August.

At that time, a confidential informant — who is paid by authorities for information — introduced an undercover detective to the delivery driver, Soto-Rojas, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Over the next month, the detective called the dispatcher for a fentanyl order and met Soto-Rojas, buying hundreds of pills at $2 each, on several occasions.

On two occasions, police said detectives followed Soto-Rojas after the drug deal, watching him sell drugs to several other people before he was able to shake the surveillance. Officers moved in to arrest Soto-Rojas on Sept. 29 after he sold fentanyl pills to the undercover detective for the fifth time.

Officers searched Soto-Rojas' vehicle and found heroin and hundreds of fentanyl pills hidden in different areas, according to the complaint.

Police said four days later, a different dispatcher messaged the undercover detective — whose cover had not been blown during Soto-Roja's arrest — letting them know the organization had a new number.

The undercover detective again ordered 100 fentanyl pills and agreed to meet the delivery driver at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Southeast Albuquerque, according to the complaint. The detective got into the delivery driver's car and soon recognized the passenger as Soto-Rojas, who was arrested days earlier.

Police said Soto-Rojas had cut his hair and shaved his mustache and beard.

Court records show no pretrial detention motion had been filed and Soto-Rojas was released two days after his arrest. He didn't show up for a court date on Oct. 4.

The undercover detective began meeting with Soto-Rojas and buying up to 1,000 fentanyl pills at a time, according to the complaint. At one point, the detective realized the organization was growing when Soto-Rojas told him they had multiple drivers making deliveries.

Police said in some instances the delivery drivers "appeared extremely nervous" during the meetups and would look for police. At one point, the group raised the price of fentanyl pills.

After several drug deals stretched over a matter of months, the undercover detective asked for 2,000 fentanyl pills on Tuesday.

He met Soto-Rojas and Vasquez-Acosta, who came in a vehicle together, in Southwest Albuquerque, according to the complaint. The men gave the detective 2,000 pills and were arrested right after.

Police said they searched the car and found heroin and hundreds more fentanyl pills.

Detectives believe the money collected by the drivers is given to the dispatcher, who sends it "to the boss" in Mexico through wire transfers and cash smuggled across the border, according to the complaint. Police said the dispatcher is believed to be staying in Albuquerque.

"His identity and whereabouts are unknown," according to the complaint.