Federal arrests in Colorado drug smuggling case

Federal authorities say they have arrested one person and are looking for others in a drug smuggling case they believe involved a Mexican cartel.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wednesday a grand jury in Denver indicted seven people on charges of conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana.

Abraham Friesen-Remple was arrested on Aug. 20 at the Santa Teresa Point of Entry in New Mexico and informed of the charges on Tuesday.

Court records allege the defendants worked with a Mexican drug cartel to smuggle drugs in the gas tanks of cars and inside large farm equipment.

Authorities say the operation moved to North Carolina following the arrest of a person who ran a Colorado Springs auto body shop involved in the case.