San Antonio, Texas – A late-night raid by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has resulted in a major drug bust at a downtown San Antonio hotel, uncovering several kilograms of methamphetamine mixed with fentanyl valued at more than $800,000.
Late-Night Drug Bust in Downtown San Antonio
According to Sheriff Javier Salazar, the raid took place Wednesday night at the Tru by Hilton Hotel in the 900 block of East Houston Street. Deputies acted after receiving a tip about possible narcotics activity taking place inside the hotel.
Members of the BCSO Organized Crime Group, along with DPS troopers, investigated the lead and obtained a search warrant for one of the hotel rooms. When they entered, investigators discovered a second connected room used by the suspects — a setup law enforcement officials said is common among drug traffickers to separate their living quarters from the area where they store narcotics.
Inside the rooms, authorities found approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine that had been laced with fentanyl, with an estimated street value between $500,000 and $800,000.
Two Suspects Arrested
Deputies arrested Tomas Hernandez Jr., 23, and Yolanda Ramos Ponce, 38, at the scene. Both suspects face first-degree felony charges for manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance over 400 grams, as reported.
Sheriff Salazar said that the pair acted as “mules” in the operation, emphasizing that they are not cartel kingpins but rather small participants in a larger drug distribution network.
“The drugs likely didn’t originate from or stop in San Antonio,” Salazar said. “They were part of a much broader distribution chain.”
Fentanyl: The Lethal Threat
Sheriff Salazar described the discovery as especially alarming, highlighting the lethal potential of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid roughly 50 times stronger than heroin.
“It doesn’t take much fentanyl to kill someone,” Salazar explained. “The lethal dose is around two milligrams — what we found here was considerably more than that.”
Salazar added that had the drugs made it to the streets, the result could have been catastrophic, potentially killing dozens of people.
Cartels Exploiting U.S. Citizens
According to Sheriff Salazar, around 90% of the fentanyl entering the United States is smuggled by American citizens working with Mexican cartels.
“These are U.S. citizens being recruited to drive it across the border,” he said, calling it a growing domestic trafficking problem.
He further explained that cartels use fentanyl to increase addiction, describing it as “an ingredient to drive dependency.”
“Fentanyl is about 50 times more addictive than crack cocaine,” Salazar said. “So, when it’s mixed with drugs already known for their addictive nature, it becomes even deadlier.”
Growing Trend of Fentanyl in All Drugs
Salazar pointed out a deeply concerning trend — fentanyl is now being found in nearly every type of illicit drug, from pills and marijuana to cocaine and methamphetamine.
“We’ve seen fentanyl appear in pills, powders, liquids, and even marijuana,” he said. “The danger is that users often don’t realize they’re consuming it.”
He added that cartels consider overdoses an “acceptable loss”, viewing deaths as part of the cost of doing business in the illegal drug trade.
How to Stay Safe from Fentanyl
Public health officials and law enforcement agencies continue to warn citizens about the hidden dangers of fentanyl. To stay safe, experts recommend:
- Never take pills or drugs from unverified or unlicensed sources.
- Use fentanyl test strips if available to check substances for contamination.
- Carry naloxone (Narcan) if you or someone you know is at risk of opioid exposure.
- Immediately call 911 if you suspect an overdose — fentanyl can cause death within minutes.
- Educate youth and communities about the risks of synthetic opioids.
Evolving Battle Against Cartels
Sheriff Salazar emphasized that law enforcement must continually adapt to the changing tactics of drug cartels.
“Every time we change our tactics, the cartels change theirs,” he said. “We have to stay one step ahead to protect our communities.”
Officials reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing collaboration between BCSO, DPS, and federal partners to intercept drugs before they reach the public.
What do you think about the growing fentanyl crisis and the dangers it poses to local communities?
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