Raid nabs drugs, guns and firefighter

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque firefighter was amongst several men indicted in a massive drug ring making their first appearance in federal court Friday morning.

The men were arrested Thursday in Edgewood and Albuquerque after a multi-agency investigation led officials to the major drug trafficking and money laundering organization operating out of the metro area.

A team of federal, state and local law enforcement officers arrested nine of the 15 defendants named in a 29 page indictment, released Thursday, including AFD firefighter Steve Chavez, 32.

According to the indictment between May 2011 and January 2012, 15 suspects participated in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamines and marijuana.

During Thursday’s raid officers seized half a kilogram of cocaine, over ten pounds of high grade marijuana, approximately $25,000 in cash, 20 vehicles, seven handguns, nine rifles and two shotguns.

Officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration are calling this the Varela organization, named after the supposed ring-leader, Homero Varela, 29.

Two defendants are already jailed at the metro detention center; four are still on the loose.

U.S. Attorney Ken Gonzales says the charges listed in the indictment are some of the most significant drug and money laundering charges ever filed in the state.

DEA agents say the Varela organization is likely responsible for distributing multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, marijuana and meth in central and north central New Mexico over the past year.