DEA and Puerto Rico Police Uncover Suspected Drug Traffickingโ Ring with Arrest in Comerio
Comerio, Puerto Rico – An arrestโ in Comerio โhas revealed an โactive federal and state inquiry into โขa suspected drug trafficking associationโค operating in puerto Rico, authorities announced today. โCarlos Zalduondo Dรญaz was taken into custody on October 22nd following a complaint filedโข by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The investigation,โฃ a joint effort betweenโฃ theโฃ DEA’s Caribbean Division and โขthe Puerto Rico Police, began on October 7th,โข focusing on drug trafficking organizationsโ across the island. Surveillance of Zalduondo โคDรญaz commenced the following day,andโฃ from โOctober 17th to โ21st,undercover agents observedโค him “in possessionโข of a firearm andโ controlled substances in and aroundโค the residence,” according โto federal documents.
A subsequent โคsearchโค warrant executed at the property in Comerio โuncovered marijuana, cocaine, cash packaging materials, and aโ check for $8,500. A DEA canine unit also detected a firearm, later identified as a Glock model 19x pistol, inside a 2024 โKIA Seltos vehicle on the property. Authorities confirmed โthe weapon had been illegally modified to fire automatically and โalsoโ recovered ammunition.
“The investigation revealed that Zalduondo Dรญaz knew thatโ he was convicted of a crime that carried a year or more in prison,” a statement from the DEA confirmed. Zalduondoโฃ Dรญaz previously served 39 months in prison following an arrest related to a shooting incident onโ New Year’s eve in Barranquitas in 2019.
The arrest signals an โongoing effort to dismantle drug trafficking operations in Puerto Rico,โข with authorities continuing to investigate the full scope of the suspected organization. A federal magistrate authorized the arrest, and the investigation remains active.
