2 men charged in what could be Minnesota’s largest drug bust ever, following a massive seizure of 960 pounds of methamphetamine in Minneapolis that law enforcement officials say may be the biggest in state history. The suspects, identified as Guillermo Mercado Chaparro, 44, of Chicago, and Joel Casas-Santiago, 46, of Minneapolis, were arrested Monday after a coordinated operation involving local and federal agencies.
The meth was discovered in two vehicles during a surveillance operation led by the St. Paul Police Department, the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team, and federal partners including the FBI and DEA. Authorities tracked Chaparro after an undercover officer purchased one pound of meth from him in south Minneapolis. Surveillance revealed Chaparro transferring large bags into an SUV driven by Casas-Santiago, prompting officers to intercept both vehicles.
A drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to narcotics in the SUV, where 251 pounds of meth were found. A subsequent search of the pickup truck uncovered an additional 638 pounds, bringing the total haul to 889 pounds with an estimated street value of $1.7 million.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty described the seizure as “staggering,” warning that the volume of drugs could have caused devastating harm to communities already grappling with addiction. “These drugs were on our streets in huge quantities and nearly made it into the hands of our neighbors who struggle with drug use,” she said.
Both men face first-degree drug trafficking charges and are being held on $2 million bail each. Court documents allege that Chaparro and Casas-Santiago are linked to larger drug trafficking organizations based in Mexico, reinforcing concerns about transnational criminal networks operating in the Upper Midwest.
The bust follows a series of recent raids in the Twin Cities, including the discovery of 900 pounds of meth hidden in metal spools inside a Burnsville storage unit. That find triggered federal searches across eight locations and is part of an ongoing investigation into a cartel-linked trafficking ring.
Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino praised the operation on social media, calling it a “hit targeting drug trafficking rings” and vowing to “crush their operations”. The St. Paul Police Department echoed the sentiment, stating that the seizure “might be the largest drug bust in Minnesota—ever”.
Methamphetamine remains the dominant illicit drug in Minnesota, with its price dropping and availability rising in recent years. According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, 77% of inmates incarcerated for drug offenses are serving time for meth-related crimes.
Officials say the scale of the seizure reflects a growing trend of large-volume trafficking, with cartels increasingly using Minnesota as a distribution hub for the Upper Midwest. The bust is expected to lead to further arrests and could help dismantle a broader network of suppliers and distributors.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging community members to report suspicious activity and seek help for substance abuse through resources like the 988 crisis line. The case also highlights the importance of interagency cooperation in tackling organized crime and protecting public health.
