GASTON, NC-On Monday, January 7, 2019, the Gaston County Police, along with several local, state and federal agencies, completed a large scale narcotics investigation. Three suspects were taken into custody after being in possession of two kilograms of methamphetamine. The narcotics have a street value of $200,000.00. Several children were present during the investigation and were taken into protective custody.
The three suspects were:
Cristian Cabrera-Rivas, Charlotte, NC
Silvia Hernandez-Iturralde, Ladson, SC
Marco Tulio Ramos Garcia, Ladson, SC
Cabrera-Rivas has an extensive criminal record. He is an illegal alien and has several prior deportations and removals. Cabrera was arrested in Mecklenburg County for assault with deadly weapon inflicting serious injury (felony), assault by pointing a gun, communicating threats, and possession of a stolen gun on December 14, 2018. He is also a documented member of the MS-13 street gang. He is charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine. He is under a $275,000 bond as well as an immigration hold.
Hernandez-Iturralde is an illegal alien. She is charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine. She is under a $250,000 bond as well as an immigration hold.
Garcia is an illegal alien and had an outstanding deportation order when he was taken into custody. He is charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine. He is under a $250,000 bond as well as an immigration hold.
Participating agencies were Gaston County Police, Gastonia Police, Mount Holly Police, Belmont Police, State Bureau of Investigations, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and task force officers from the Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte office.
No further information is available for release at this time.
