A drug trafficking ring has been brought down by a Minnesota task force after a long-term investigation ended with nine arrests on Monday.
Cocaine, cash and vehicles tied to a trafficking group was seized after the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force began an investigation in the summer of 2025.
The Task Force learned that the group was selling cocaine in the St. Cloud area and nearby communities.
Investigators say they found ties to Puerto Rico and identified members working in Stearns, Benton, Todd and Hennepin counties.
During the investigation, the task force made multiple undercover drug deals. In total, 4.5 pounds of cocaine was either seized or bought before the final arrests. Based on the street value of cocaine in St. Cloud, the amount recovered is worth about $169,000.
Arrests
Jose Ramon Frias Sanchez, 25, of St. Cloud; Anibal Jimmy Rojas, 41, of Long Prairie; Francisco Emanuel Sanchez Nieves, 22, of St. Cloud; Caleb Miguel Rodriguez Ortiz, 24, of Waite Park; Josue Lorenzo Ortiz Abreu, 24, of Waite Park; Emmanuel Alexander Matta, 26, of St. Cloud; Luis Santos Diaz Marrero, 32, of St. Cloud; Cristian David Ortiz-Corcina, 29, of Columbia Heights; and Jose Ramon Frias-Sanchez, 25, of St. Cloud.
Many of the suspects also face at least one count of first-degree sale of a controlled substance and others face multiple first-degree sale charges.
Courtesy of KSTP
