Four Men Charged After DEA & Phoenix Police Seize Large Quantities of Fake Pills & Methamphetamine

PHOENIX – The US Drug Enforcement Administration and the Phoenix Police Department Mountain View Precinct Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET) arrested four subjects who were involved in the distribution of large quantities of fake M30 pills, fentanyl powder, methamphetamine and heroin in the greater Phoenix area. The investigation into the drug trafficking group culminated on February 7th, 2022, after investigators served three search warrants in Phoenix, Arizona. Total seizure include approximately 375,000 M30 pills, suspected to contain fentanyl, over two kilograms of powder cocaine, one kilo of powder suspected to contain fentanyl, 190 pounds of methamphetamine, three pounds of heroin, seven firearms, five vehicles, 12 pounds of marijuana, and over $70,000. The warrants were served at three addresses all within the West Phoenix/Maryvale area and Avondale.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has charged the following:

• Victor Manuel Vargas, age 37, with five counts including possession of narcotic drugs for sale, possession of dangerous drugs for sale, and misconduct involving weapons
• Carlos Manuel Munoz-Garcia, age 19, with 1 count of possession of narcotic drugs for sale
• Damien Roman Escobar, age 21, with three counts including possession of dangerous drugs for sale and misconduct involving weapons
• Jake Aldaco, age 28, with two counts to include possession of dangerous drugs for sale and possession of narcotic drugs for sale

The four men were booked into the county jail and had their initial appearance days after their arrest in Maricopa County Superior Court. Officers from Maryvale-Estrella Mountain Precinct NET assisted with the execution of the warrants.

A charge in a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.