A Minnesota police raid leads to 12 arrests, including a murder suspect and key players in a deadly fentanyl trafficking ring. Kastedell Larmarr Thomas Jr. photo courtesy the St. Paul Police Department.

ICYMI: Minnesota Murder Suspect and 11 Drug Traffickers Taken Down in Sting Operation!

A Minnesota police raid leads to 12 arrests, including a murder suspect and key players in a deadly fentanyl trafficking ring. 🌐 #News #StPaulMN #Minnesota #Crime

ST. PAUL, MN – A major sting operation in St. Paul, Minnesota erupted in a wave of arrests Tuesday, capturing 12 suspects as local authorities cracked down on a growing drug crisis and violent crime spree. Among those taken into custody was a man charged with murder in a deadly October shooting, shaking the community as details of the bust emerge.

The operation, dubbed “Operation Cold Front,” targeted fentanyl trafficking and was the result of a three-month investigation aimed at dismantling networks tied to drug-related violence.

Four of the arrests directly connected to fentanyl trafficking signal the law enforcement push to control a crisis that claimed 180 lives in Ramsey County last year. Fentanyl overdoses have become the county’s top cause of overdose-related deaths, creating an urgent need for action.

Murder Charges Linked to Deadly Robbery

One of the most chilling arrests involved 20-year-old Kastedell Larmarr Thomas Jr., accused of murdering 42-year-old Nicholas Sletten during a failed robbery.

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According to the criminal complaint, Sletten had driven Thomas Jr. and four others to a Speedway gas station on October 14. But what began as a routine ride quickly spiraled into chaos.

After leaving the gas station, Thomas Jr. and another passenger allegedly drew guns in what investigators describe as an attempt to rob Sletten. In the violent turn of events, Thomas Jr. reportedly shot Sletten before he and the others fled, leaving their victim behind.

Sletten was found lying near his vehicle at Jackson Street and Wheelock Parkway shortly before 9:30 p.m. Though emergency responders rushed to the scene, Sletten’s life could not be saved. He was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital.

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Coordinated Sting by Multiple Crime Units

Tuesday’s large-scale arrests weren’t random. They were part of a coordinated effort involving the St. Paul Police Department’s specialized teams, including the Narcotics, Gang, Criminal Investigations, and Special Investigations units. The Ramsey County Violent Crimes Enforcement Team also played a key role in ensuring the operation’s success.

Law enforcement has made it clear that these efforts are just the beginning. As violent crime and fentanyl-related deaths continue to grip the area, authorities are determined to dismantle the criminal networks responsible and bring dangerous offenders to justice.

RELATED TOPICS: Crime | Minnesota

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