2 arrested on drug trafficking charges in Amarillo

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Amarillo Police Department reports that two people were arrested on state and federal charges after a joint investigation with the DEA into suspected drug trafficking activities in the area.

According to APD, Jacob Newby and Lilith Paparo-Prieto were arrested on charges of “Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute,” on Sunday.

APD said, in June, members of the P.A.C.E. (Proactive Criminal Enforcement) Unit conducted a joint investigation with DEA into the drug trafficking activities of two alleged suspects reported to be obtaining Fentanyl from sources outside of Texas and transporting it back to Amarillo to be distributed.

On July 3 the P.A.C.E. Unit received information that the two alleged suspects were traveling back to Amarillo from Oklahoma City, officers conducted a traffic stop on their vehicle when the two were back Amarillo.

During a search of the vehicle, officers said they found about 22 grams of suspected Fentanyl powder in a fake soft drink can. During an investigation officers said they learned the suspects bring fentanyl from Oklahoma City and Albuquerque 2,000 to 3,000 pills at a time. The two were then released pending further investigation.

Law enforcement presented the information to a federal grand jury, and they issued indictments and warrants for Newby and Lilith Paparo-Prieto for the charges of “Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute.”

They were arrested on the charges and booked into the Potter County Jail.

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