In a fortuitous development, a pair of St. Paul police officers independently tracking drug-related cases discovered they were investigating the same target. Their impromptu collaboration led to an impressive drug bust in Minneapolis, which resulted in the confiscation of almost 900 pounds of methamphetamine. The St. Paul Police Department publicized these details during a briefing held on Wednesday.
According to information shared, the officers discovered the target vehicle amidst their independent investigations. Upon joining forces, their joint effort culminated in a successful operation carried out by the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Enforcement Team and federal agents. This became one of the largest drug operations in Minneapolis, leading to the seizure of nearly 900 pounds of meth on July 7, 2025.
Both investigating officers had distinct affiliations; one being a part of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Enforcement Team, and the other operating as a Drug Enforcement Administration task force officer. Collaborating with the Violent Crime Enforcement Team and federal agents, the pair played a vital role in executing the arrests.
The magnitude of the drug bust, concentrated on methamphetamine, places it among the largest in state history, a sentiment echoed by both the St. Paul police and the sheriff’s office. A significant diffusion of crystal methamphetamine was also recently discovered and seized during a search warrant executed in Burnsville.
With regards to the financial aspect, the meth confiscated from Minneapolis is estimated to carry an approximate value of $1.7 million. This conclusion was drawn from criminal complaints filed against two implicated individuals. The volume of drugs seized clearly indicates the probable links with large drug-selling organizations operating out of Mexico.
Amongst the evidence gathered during the operation, law enforcement discovered a written document, presumably a ‘drug ledger’, while conducting a search on a vehicle. The ledger contained detailed information such as dates, vehicles, and correlated dollar amounts. The methodology used in the enforcement operation aimed specifically to dismantle drug-trafficking rings.
The Hennepin County Attorney acknowledged the severity of the incident, issuing a statement highlighting the staggering quantity of illicit substances recovered. The Attorney emphasized the potential risk the drugs posed to the community, bearing grave concern for the residents grappling with substance abuse issues.
A serendipitous conversation initiated the joint investigation. The St. Paul Police sergeant and the police officer, who were leading separate investigations, stumbled upon a shared case detail – a specific truck. Their realization of working on the same case led them to combine their efforts to further their collective investigation.
After their collaborative effort, the investigators tracked down that the drugs were likely headed for a delivery at a specific St. Paul address. This lead them to locate the main suspect’s vehicle in Minneapolis, which subsequently enabled them to continue and broaden their inquiry. The connectivity of a case to St. Paul facilitated its pursuit, regardless of wherever the leads took them.
Upon the implementation of undercover operations, an officer managed to successfully purchase a pound of methamphetamine from a suspect, later identified as Guillermo Mercado Chaparro, a 44-year-old resident of Chicago. Chaparro was subsequently monitored while he drove a Toyota Tacoma pick-up around South Minneapolis, engaging in what appeared to be various drug transactions.
In due course, officers witnessed Chaparro loaded two large bags into a Jeep, situated near his pickup truck. The Jeep was then commandeered by another man, Joel Casas-Santiago. Upon the departure of the two vehicles from the area, officers commenced surveillance on both.
The official briefing reported that the Tacoma was ultimately located in South Minneapolis, whereas the Jeep was tracked down at 31st Street and Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis. Both Chaparro and Casas-Santiago, a 46-year-old Minneapolis citizen, were found in the Jeep.
The utilization of drug-detection dogs solidified suspicions as a positive response to the presence of controlled substances was received during a search of the Jeep. The search resulted in the uncovering of 251 pounds of meth. Moreover, Chaparro was found to be in possession of the keys to the Tacoma.
Further investigations led officers to the Tacoma, which also returned a positive alert from the drug-sniffing canine. A search warrant was obtained; the subsequent search of the vehicle revealed an additional 638 pounds of meth. Incidentally, the alleged drug ledger was also found in the Tacoma.
Post-arrest, Chaparro admitted his involvement in drug trafficking, according to the complaints. The official documentation against Casas-Santiago does not specify whether he offered a statement to the police. Chaparro and Casas-Santiago face charges of first-degree drug sale, with Casas-Santiago being charged with a single count. Both men are currently being held in Hennepin County jail, making their preliminary court appearances on the afternoon of Wednesday.