D.E.A: Largest ABQ meth bust in years

D.E.A. agents say it was the largest single meth bust in Albuquerque in years. 

Agents arrested 44-year-old Charles Padilla, who worked at the Sunport in maintenance for 13 years before being terminated in February.  They say last Friday, acting on a tip, agents searched a house on Del Monte Trail in Southwest Albuquerque.  Inside a hidden compartment in one of the bedrooms was 18 pounds of meth with a street value of $3.5 million. 

 Agents say another tip led them to another home on Spotted Pony in Southwest Albuquerque. There they found Padilla and they also found another pound of meth and 19 guns in a safe. Another gun and a bulletproof vest was found in his car. 

Padilla’s home is in a neighborhood with kids and puppies and agents say, one of the city’s biggest suspected drug dealers.  Agents believe Padilla may have been working with cartels in Mexico. 

 He made his first appearance in court Monday and is due back in court Tuesday.

D.E.A: Largest ABQ meth bust in years