Two Venezuelan nationals have found themselves at the center of a significant drug bust in Gwinnett County. Hector Moreno Luzardo, 35, and Gelis Escalona Martinez, 41, are facing drug trafficking charges following a detailed investigation by the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO), as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. The ARDEO executed a search warrant on July 2, unveiling approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine and over half a kilogram of cocaine, along with an undisclosed sum of cash.
The inquiry leading to the arrests began back in March when ARDEO agents received a tip that Luzardo might be involved in the sale of cocaine. Atlanta News First disclosed that the arrests came after months of evidence gathering, culminating in the raid on Luzardo’s home. In a similar residence, investigators encountered Martinez, who was “identified during the investigation as a participant in the sale of illegal narcotics.”
Both individuals were booked into Gwinnett County Jail following their arrest. Adding to the complexity of an already serious legal situation, Atlanta News First reports that Luzardo and Martinez are being held on detainers by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the potential threat of deportation looming, superseding the drug charges…