A federal drug case described by authorities as one of the largest methamphetamine seizures in Minnesota history has taken a major turn.
Guillermo Mercado-Chaparro has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine after investigators uncovered nearly 900 pounds of the drug during a sweeping operation last summer.
Undercover Buy Led to Massive Discovery
According to court records, the case began when an undercover officer purchased a pound of meth from Mercado-Chaparro. Surveillance following that transaction revealed he was traveling across south Minneapolis, allegedly conducting multiple suspected drug deals.
Days later, authorities observed him remove two large bags from the bed of his truck and transfer them into a nearby Jeep — a move that ultimately triggered a high-stakes stop by law enforcement.
Traffic Stop Uncovers Hundreds of Pounds
Police stopped the Jeep in St. Paul with Mercado-Chaparro and another man, Joel Casas-Santiago, inside…