Marengo, IL – The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two Arizona residents after a significant fentanyl bust on Wednesday. Gloria Gastelum, 54, and German Vargas, 22, both of Tucson, AZ, were apprehended in Marengo after law enforcement intercepted their vehicle, allegedly carrying 120,000 fentanyl pills.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force initiated the operation following a tip-off from an undercover detective. The pair was reportedly en route to deliver the narcotics in the area when deputies stopped their rental car near W Grant Highway and Ford Street. Inside, authorities discovered a large stash of fentanyl pills marked as oxycodone.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, both individuals face serious charges. Gastelum and Vargas have been charged with manufacturing and delivering more than 900 grams of fentanyl, a Class X felony, as well as possession of over 200 grams of fentanyl, a Class 1 felony. Both were taken into custody without incident. The charges are currently allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
