MINNEAPOLIS — Federal and local authorities have filed serious drug trafficking charges against two men after seizing nearly 900 pounds of methamphetamine during a major bust in Minneapolis.
Guillermo Mercado Chaparro, 44, and Joel Casas-Santiago, 46, were arrested Monday and each charged with first-degree drug sale following a months-long investigation. According to court records, the two men are not from the Twin Cities but are allegedly connected to drug trafficking networks based in Mexico.
The case began when an undercover officer purchased a pound of meth from Chaparro on July 2. Investigators then used surveillance and a GPS tracker on Chaparro’s Toyota Tacoma to track his movements.
On Monday, officers observed Chaparro loading two large bags into a Jeep driven by Casas-Santiago. Both men drove off in separate vehicles. Officers later found the Jeep near 31st Street and Cedar Avenue. A drug-sniffing dog alerted authorities, and a search revealed 251 pounds of meth inside. The Tacoma was later found unoccupied and searched at a secure location, where 638 more pounds of meth were discovered.
In total, 889 pounds of meth were seized, with an estimated street value of $1.7 million.
Inside the Tacoma, police also found a suspected drug ledger listing transactions, vehicles, and payments, along with a pill bottle bearing Chaparro’s name. During questioning, Chaparro reportedly admitted his role in the drug operation.
DEA Acting Special Agent Rafael Mattei noted that traffickers are shifting tactics, opting to move larger quantities in single trips. “They’re doing bigger loads so they can get more product to their customer base faster,” he said, adding that the DEA is stepping up enforcement alongside public education efforts.
Both Chaparro and Casas-Santiago remain in custody on $2 million bail each. Chaparro is scheduled to appear in court on August 1, while Casas-Santiago’s hearing is set for July 30.
Multiple agencies, including the DEA, FBI, St. Paul Police Department, and Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, collaborated on the bust. Mattei added that highways remain a critical trafficking route, citing cases where drugs were hidden in RVs or semi-trailers.
“This is a pipeline feeding the Twin Cities,” he said, warning that meth and fentanyl continue to pose serious threats to the region.
