Million Dollars Worth of Cocaine Seized and Two Men Arrested
(OCSO, April 27, 2022)
Pontiac, MI – A months-long investigation by the Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) resulted in the seizure of 10 kilos of cocaine with a street value of $1 million and the arrest of two men who were in the country illegally.
Undercover NET Detectives made the arrest on April 21 with the assistance uniformed Deputies. NET members stopped two vehicles which resulted in the seizure of the cocaine, about $3,600 in cash, a handgun, and a vehicle.
According to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, the street value of the cocaine is calculated at approximately $100 per gram. “It is well known in law enforcement across this country that people entering or staying in this country illegally are trafficking large amounts of narcotics that are resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths in America,” Bouchard said. “The borders must be secured, and the criminals trafficking narcotics held accountable for the destruction they are wreaking on families and communities.”
Charged in the case are Rosario Eduardo Trejo Quintero, 44, a Mexican national who lists his address in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. He was in the United States on an expired visa. His co-defendant is Hong Yuan Li, 40, a Chinese national whose last known address was in New York City. He was previously deported in 2006.
They are each charged with delivery/manufacture of cocaine over 1,000 grams. A conviction on the charge carries up to life in prison and a maximum $1 million fine. 52-1 District Court Magistrate Rob Morad set a $1 million bond for each man and or dered a GPS tether prior to any release. Li is also charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime. They are both being held in the Oakland County Jail. U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) has placed a federal hold on each man for possible deportation.
Undercover Detectives set up in a fixed surveillance position ob served Quintero arrive at a Pontiac location via Uber. He got out of the vehicle carrying a duffle bag and met Li, who was driving another vehicle. Quintero was standing at the passenger window of Li’s vehicle when Detectives moved in to take the two men into custody. Further investigation revealed the duffle bag contained the 10 kilos of cocaine. Li was armed with a Taurus 9 mm pistol.
The Uber driver was questioned but not detained.
Quintero and Li are scheduled to appear May 3 in 50th District Court in Pontiac for a probable cause conference. Li has a prior misdemeanor conviction from 2004 in 27th Circuit Court in Newago County for driver’s license: corrupting an examining officer. Quintero has no prior criminal history. The Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team is a multi-jurisdictional task force of 13 agencies designed to integrate federal and local law enforcement to identify, investigate and prosecute violators of state and federal laws. In 2021, NET seized approximately $1.9 million worth of illegal drugs throughout Oakland County. NET has successfully forfeited and closed cases that resulted in the distribution of $395,000 to the local participating agencies.
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