TEXAS — Amarillo authorities arrested two men on Nov. 20 following a drug bust that uncovered approximately $348,000 worth of methamphetamine and fentanyl, according to court documents.
The Amarillo Police Department received information that Jose Magana-Reyes and an unidentified man were traveling from New Mexico to Amarillo with about five pounds of meth and roughly a half kilogram of fentanyl pills.
Officers located a vehicle matching the description—a gold van—along I-40 and followed it to a Motel 6 on Paramount Boulevard.
Magana-Reyes was seen exiting the front passenger seat, while the driver, identified as Rosalino Misael Torres-Septimo, attempted to flee but was stopped by police. Magana-Reyes also tried to run but was quickly apprehended.
A search of the van revealed five black tape-wrapped bundles of suspected meth, weighing about six pounds, hidden inside a spare tire in the rear storage compartment. Investigators also discovered a plastic bag containing approximately 808 grams of blue fentanyl pills in a secret compartment inside the back passenger seat.
Authorities estimated the street value of the meth at $250,000 and the fentanyl at $98,000.
Both suspects waived their rights and admitted to law enforcement that the white substance was meth and the blue pills were fentanyl. Magana-Reyes acknowledged plans to sell the drugs for profit, while Torres-Septimo said he was being paid $500 to transport them. Court documents also noted both men are in the U.S. illegally after previous deportations.
Cell phone searches reportedly revealed further evidence of drug trafficking. Both men are currently held on charges of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
