A veterinarian in a years-old animal cruelty case has officially been arrested in New York. Andres Lopez Elorez is accused of helping smuggle heroin into the US by surgically implanting it into puppies.
Authorities busted the operation back in 2005. Some of those involved were convicted years ago.
Lopez Elorez fled to Spain from his home country of Colombia. He was arrested in 2015, but fought extradition to the US. Monday, he was finally taken into custody in New York.
The puppies involved in the trafficking in 2005 have all passed away now, but CNN affiliate WPIX reports some of them had long, happy lives. Two were adopted and one became a drug-sniffing dog for Colombian authorities.
Lopez Elorez pleaded not guilty to the heroin trafficking charge and is due back in court this June.
