Second Man Charged in Massive Rochester Drug Importing Case

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Olmsted County Attorney’s Office has charged a second man in connection to a massive Rochester-based drug importing operation. 

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The latest charges stem from a drug trafficking investigation involving 46-year-old John Michael Ask of Rochester. As a result of the investigation, authorities recovered over seven pounds of fentanyl-laced M30 pills from Ask's residence earlier this week, according to a Rochester Police Spokesman. 

Over the course of the trafficking investigation, law enforcement learned of two packages sent from Arizona to Rochester residences that were suspected to be drug shipments. Authorities then served search warrants for several homes and vehicles throughout southeast and northwest Rochester, according to court documents. 

One of the residences searched was that of 26-year-old Jibril Abukar. Police executed a search warrant at the home in the 1900 block of Village Dr. Southeast on Wednesday after learning that Ask mailed a package there, court documents say. 

The charges described suspected drug-related items officers seized as the result of the search. 

Abukar was charged Friday with one count of first-degree drug sales and a count of third-degree drug possession. The judge set his conditional bail at $50,000 during his first court appearance Friday morning. He’s due back in court on August 2. 

Ask was also in court Friday making his first appearance on charges of first-degree drug sales and first-degree drug possession. The criminal complaint in Ask’s case indicates he had a package containing fentanyl-laced M30 pills sent to his mother’s residence that has since been recovered by police. 

"Fentanyl continues to be a growing problem in Rochester, and the quantity seized this week could have had a devastating impact on our community, Rochester Police Chief Jim Franklin said in a statement. "The proactive and collaborative efforts of those involved in this case are commendable.”

Rochester Police anticipate more arrests as the investigation continues.