PAWNEE COUNTY– Miguel Angel Gil, 36 of El Paso, appeared in custody Thursday afternoon, and co-defendant, Omar Gustavo Trejo, 25 of El Paso, appeared in custody Friday morning in the Pawnee County District Court before Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell for First Appearances on felony drug charges, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett
Gil is charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute over 1.0 kilograms; Conspiracy to Distribute over 1.0 kilograms of Cocaine; Possession of Cocaine for personal use; Unlawful Use of Telecommunication Facility and Failure to Use Turn Signal.
Trejo is charged with Conspiracy to Distribute over 1.0 kilograms of Cocaine, and Unlawful Use of Telecommunication Facility.
The charges stem from separate traffic stops conducted by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department in the early morning hours on March 23, 2026. The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration had alerted local law enforcement on March 22, 2026, of suspected drug trafficking moving in tandem through Central Kansas.
The Flock license plate reader system identified the suspect vehicles as they entered Pawnee County. Once identified, both suspect vehicles were observed committing moving violations within the City of Larned. The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Larned Police Department, a Barton County Sheriff’s Office K9, and an Ellinwood Police Officer. K9s were deployed at both traffic stops. The searches resulted in the seizure of approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine.
Trejo was previously stopped by the Pawnee County K9 Deputy for a moving violation on January 4, 2026. The K9 was deployed after the Deputy smelled the odor of marijuana. The search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 1 pound of raw marijuana and over $49,000.00 in US currency. Trejo was subsequently charged with (1) Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; (2) Unlawful Act Involving Proceeds from a violation of the Controlled Substance Act; (3) Unlawful Use of Telecommunication Facility; and (4) Possession of Drug Paraphernalia for Personal Use. He was later released from custody after posting a $10,000 bond. Those charges are still pending.
Both men are being held in the custody in lieu of $100,000 cash or surety bond.