The local drug task force seized more than 2 pounds of narcotics and arrested one suspect on multiple felony charges Wednesday night after executing a warrant on his residence.
Benito Garcia-Altamirano, 29, was taken into custody shortly after 9 p.m. on felony charges of trafficking a controlled substance and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, each punishable by up to life in prison, possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 30 years, and possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of firearms by certain persons, unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate a crime and first-degree forgery, each punishable by up to 20 years.
Garcia-Altamirano remained in custody Thursday in lieu of $35,000 bond and is set to appear April 25 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force executed a narcotics search warrant at Garcia-Altamirano's residence at 3700 Highway 290. The Garland County Sheriff's Tactical Response Team, Hot Springs Police Department K-9 Unit and Community Policing Response Team assisted in making entry and securing the residence. Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the National Guard provided additional assistance in the investigation, a news release said.
Once inside the residence, investigators located a juvenile and Garcia-Altamirano, who had a federal warrant for distribution of methamphetamine and illegal re-entry of an aggravated felon after prior removal, according to the affidavit.
Inside the residence, investigators located a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle; a loaded semi-automatic handgun; a loaded .410 caliber shotgun; 16 vacuumed-sealed bags containing 929.3 grams, more than 2 pounds, of meth; one plastic bag containing 11.3 grams meth; one bag containing 79.6 grams of cocaine; multiple vacuumed sealed bags; one bag with strips of suspected LSD; a set of digital scales; boxes of ammunition; and counterfeit documents belonging to Garcia-Altamirano and his spouse.
The suspected meth and cocaine field tested positive and the drug task force seized $3,191 in U.S. currency and $2,620 in pesos believed to have been obtained through narcotics sales.
Garcia-Altamirano was placed on hold for U.S. District Court.
The DTF is composed of officers from the Hot Springs Police Department, Garland County Sheriff's Department, Arkansas State Police, the 18th East Prosecuting Attorney's Office and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.
Local on 04/15/2016