Authorities seize 18 pounds of meth in Anoka bust
A search warrant executed at an Anoka home last week found more than 18 pounds of meth worth between $500,000 and $1 million.
ABC Newspapers reports 21-year-old Cesar Ruben Fletes-Ortiz faces two first-degree controlled substance charges.
The Anoka-Hennepin Drug Task Force and the Anoka Police Department SWAT team executed the warrant at 4058 7th Ave., believed to be the residence of Fletes-Ortiz, last Thursday afternoon.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities found "an extremely large amount" of meth in a basement gun safe. Two black garbage bags, each containing four containers of meth, totaled 8,308 grams or 18.54 pounds of the drug.
Three firearms, a ledger book, digital scale and $10,000 in cash were also found in the safe. At least one of the guns, a Glock .40-caliber handgun, was loaded with 13 bullets, the newspaper said.
Fletes-Ortiz is in custody at the Anoka County Jail on $2 million bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 23.
If convicted, Fletes-Ortiz could serve a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and $1 million in fines for each charge, KSTP reported.
This is the second meth bust in Anoka County this month. According to the Star Tribune, a search of a Blaine mobile home on Aug. 8 turned up more than three pounds of meth in what the sheriff's office called a "fairly significant seizure."
