(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Special Investigation Detectives coordinated with several multijurisdictional law enforcement agencies on an operation Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30. The operation led to the arrest of three wanted fugitives and the recovery of approximately 14,000 Fentanyl pills, half a pound of methamphetamine, thousands of dollars in cash and a handgun. PCSO said the Fentanyl has a street value of $70,000.

PCSO Special Investigation Detectives, U.S. Marshals of Colorado, the Otero County Sheriff, Colorado Parole, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the Fountain Police Department coordinated to locate three wanted fugitives. The fugitives were Gabriel Bencomo Diaz, 24, of Pueblo, Richard Frantz, 51, of La Junta, and Bryan Six, 45, of Manzanola.

Detectives located Bencomo Diaz driving in the city of Pueblo and stopped the car he was driving in. Diaz attempted to run after the car was stopped and was quickly arrested, according to the PCSO. As law enforcement was securing the vehicle they saw an open backpack with what appeared to have a large amount of counterfeit Fentanyl pills and a significant amount of cash. There was also a gun seen inside the car. A large amount of money was also in Diaz’s possession.

Recovered in this operation was $16,190 in cash, approximately 14,000 Fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and a 40-caliber handgun.

Diaz was arrested on a federal warrant for violation of probation for robbery, and booked in the Pueblo County Jail. Additional charges are expected.

Law enforcement also arrested Richard Frantz in La Junta and Bryan Six in Manzonola on Thursday. Frantz was arrested on a warrant for dangerous drugs, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. Six was arrested on a warrant for escape.

“The drugs seized in this case saved lives in this community,” said Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero. “This was a significant amount of Fentanyl that was taken off the streets in Pueblo County. We know there is more out there, and we are committed to continuing to work with our law enforcement partners to further seek out and remove these types of drugs from our community. This was great work by all involved.”