Attorney General Mayes Announces Indictment in Drug Case, Seizure of Over 75 Pounds of Fentanyl

PIMA COUNTY - Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced that a Pima County Grand Jury has indicted Baltazar Quintero Bueno and Dalia Rodriguez De-Padilla on multiple felony charges for their involvement in selling and possessing over 75 pounds of fentanyl pills in the Tucson area last year.

On January 2, 2025, a Pima County Grand Jury indicted Bueno on 13 felony offenses and De-Padilla on three felony offenses for their involvement in the possession and sale of fentanyl pills from May to December of 2024 in southern Arizona. On December 23, 2024 Bueno was arrested by the Arizona Department of Public Safety for transporting 4.65 pounds of fentanyl pills with the intent to sell and for possessing .00134 pounds of cocaine. When detectives executed a search warrant on his residence, they seized 73.3 pounds of fentanyl pills, 1.75 pounds of fentanyl powder, and .355 pounds of methamphetamine. In addition to the drugs, detectives found $5,000 in cash and three pistols. Bueno was charged with possession of all of these materials and both he and De-Padilla were charged with Conspiracy and Illegally Conducting an Enterprise for their drug dealing conduct. Both were also charged with the sale of 2.45 pounds of fentanyl pills earlier last year on May 28, 2024 and Bueno was charged with the sale of 2.25 pounds of fentanyl pills on June 11, 2024.

The two were arraigned on January 9, 2025 and have pled not guilty to these charges. The Arizona Department of Public Safety investigated this case and Assistant Attorney General Sabrina Lochner will prosecute the case. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and convicted by a jury. A copy of the indictment is available here .