---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ARTICLES By Date 2020 Justice dot gov 2020/02/28 Six defendants charged in conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in Northern New Mexico https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/six-defendants-charged-conspiracy-distribute-crack-cocaine-northern- new-mexico 2020/02/20 [Cimarron/Trafficking] Former Deputy Sheriff in Colfax County sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for drug trafficking and theft of government property 2020/02/20--https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/former-deputy-sheriff-colfax-county-sentenced-87-months- federal-prison-drug-trafficking 2019 The Intercept 2019 DEA Amtrak passenger search Albuquerque. By Amy Martyn. https://theintercept.com/2019/08/31/dea-amtrak-passenger-search-albuquerque/ Justice dot gov 2019/09/20 DEA-LED MULTI-AGENCY INVESTIGATION DISMANTLES MAJOR NEW MEXICO POLY-DRUG TRAFFICKING DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/dea-led-multi-agency-investigation-dismantles-major-new-mexico-poly- drug-trafficking-drug 2018 Justice dot gov 2018/10/11 [Hobbs/Meth, Cocaine, Marijuana/Trafficking] Hobbs Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms Laws: Plea Agreement Recommends 15-Year Prison Sentence https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/hobbs-man-pleads-guilty-violating-federal-drug-trafficking-and- firearms-laws 2018/10/04 [Carlsbad/Meth/Trafficking/Firearms] Eighth Member of Southeastern New Mexico Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/eighth-member-southeastern-new-mexico-drug-trafficking- organization-pleads-guilty-drug 2017 2017/12/14 [Meth, Heroin Trafficking] Last Member of Taos County-Based Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Ring Pleads Guilty: Defendants Prosecuted as Part of HOPE Initiative Which Seeks to Reduce the Number of Opioid-Related Deaths in New Mexico https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/last-member-taos-county-based-drug-trafficking-and-money- laundering-ring-pleads-guilty 2016 ICE dot gov US Immigration and Customs Enforcement 2016 New Mexico residents arrested in conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/6-new-mexico-residents-arrested-conspiracy-distribute-crack-cocaine 2016/05/13 Alleged meth traffickers arrested New Mexico during ICE HSI led operation one fugitive at large https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/alleged-meth-traffickers-arrested-new-mexico-during-ice-hsi-led- operation-1-fugitive 2015 Insight Crime 2015/02/12 Tracing Heroin Trafficking in New Mexico. By Kyra Gurney. http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/tracing-heroin-trafficking-in-new-mexico 2014 ICE dot gov US Immigration and Customs Enforcement 2014/02/27 HSI Investigation results 27 arrests accused NM drug traffickers https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/hsi-investigation-results-27-arrests-accused-nm-drug-traffickers 2013 Ideas 2013/09/27 Albuquerque really is like Breaking Bad By Madeleine Carey http://ideas.time.com/2013/09/27/why-breaking-bad-rings-true-to-me/ Justice gov 2013/05/15 [Anthony/cocaine, heroin/laundering] Last of Nine Defendants Charged With Participation in Anthony, N.M., Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/last-nine-defendants-charged-participation-anthony-nm-drug- trafficking-ring-sentenced By Publication ICE dot gov US Immigration and Customs Enforcement 2016 New Mexico residents arrested in conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/6-new-mexico-residents-arrested-conspiracy-distribute-crack-cocaine 2016/05/13 Alleged meth traffickers arrested New Mexico during ICE HSI led operation one fugitive at large https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/alleged-meth-traffickers-arrested-new-mexico-during-ice-hsi-led- operation-1-fugitive NM investigation targeted methamphetamine traffickers on the Navajo Reservation 2014/02/27 HSI Investigation results 27 arrests accused NM drug traffickers https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/hsi-investigation-results-27-arrests-accused-nm-drug-traffickers Ideas 2013/09/27 Albuquerque really is like Breaking Bad By Madeleine Carey http://ideas.time.com/2013/09/27/why-breaking-bad-rings-true-to-me/ Insight Crime 2015/02/12 Tracing Heroin Trafficking in New Mexico. By Kyra Gurney. http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/tracing-heroin-trafficking-in-new-mexico The Intercept 2019 DEA Amtrak passenger search Albuquerque. By Amy Martyn. https://theintercept.com/2019/08/31/dea-amtrak-passenger-search-albuquerque/ Excerpt: There are “a lot of people traveling on the train with something they don’t want the government knowing about,” McKenzie said in an interview with The Intercept, and law enforcement all along the route are aware of this fact as well. A previous International Narcotics Interdiction Association’s Agent/Officer of the Year, Special Agent Perry with the Drug Enforcement Administration is behind as many as 1,600 criminal cases against drug couriers, according to court documents touting his credibility as a star government witness. His secret weapons are a train and bus depot in his district that seem to attract an inordinate amount of drug trafficking, and a capacious interpretation of the Constitution’s tolerance for stops and searches. https://theintercept.com/2019/08/31/dea-amtrak-passenger-search-albuquerque/ J Justice gov 2013/05/15 [Anthony/cocaine, heroin/laundering] Last of Nine Defendants Charged With Participation in Anthony, N.M., Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/last-nine-defendants-charged-participation-anthony-nm-drug- trafficking-ring-sentenced Excerpt: In Jan. 2012, the owners and operators of a pecan farm in Anthony, N.M., their two sons and four others were arrested on a 24-count indictment alleging federal drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. A ninth defendant, who was separately charged, also was arrested. By Aug. 2012, all nine defendants had pleaded guilty either to drug trafficking or money laundering charges, or both. Today, the case concluded with the sentencing of Sandra L. Portillo…Count 1 of the indictment charged all eight defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin. Count 2 charged certain defendants with maintaining a place for storing and distributing drugs. Counts 3, 5, 9 and 21 charged certain defendants with distributing cocaine and aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine. Count 11 charged certain defendants with conspiracy to launder money… https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/last-nine-defendants-charged-participation-anthony-nm-drug- trafficking-ring-sentenced 2020/02/28 Six defendants charged in conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in Northern New Mexico https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/six-defendants-charged-conspiracy-distribute-crack-cocaine-northern- new-mexico Excerpt: Jose Mendoza, 32, and Natalie Mendoza, 35, of Medanales, New Mexico, Ryan Rodriguez, 27, of Chamita, New Mexico, Andrea Rodriguez, 28, and Edvardo Carlson, 39, of Espanola, New Mexico, and Bridget Archuleta, 31, of San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico appeared in federal court today for arraignment on an indictment charging them with various drug trafficking offenses involving crack cocaine (cocaine base) in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico from Oct. 2, 2019, to Feb. 25, 2020. 2020/02/20 [Cimarron/Trafficking] Former Deputy Sheriff in Colfax County sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for drug trafficking and theft of government property 2020/02/20--https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/former-deputy-sheriff-colfax-county-sentenced-87-months- federal-prison-drug-trafficking Excerpt: The Honorable Judith C. Herrera, Senior United States District Judge, sentenced Vidal Sandoval, 50, of Cimarron, New Mexico, to 87 months in federal prison today for drug trafficking and theft of government property committed while Sandoval was a deputy sheriff in Colfax County, New Mexico. “When law enforcement officers betray the communities they swore to protect, it overshadows the heroic work the majority of police, deputies, and agents perform on a daily basis,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Langenberg of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division. “The FBI, working with partners like the New Mexico State Police and Colfax County Sheriff's Office, will pursue anyone who dishonors the badge and puts the public at risk.” Sandoval pleaded guilty on July 13, 2016, to one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of theft of government property. 2020/02/20--https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/former-deputy-sheriff-colfax-county-sentenced-87-months- federal-prison-drug-trafficking 2019/09/20 DEA-LED MULTI-AGENCY INVESTIGATION DISMANTLES MAJOR NEW MEXICO POLY-DRUG TRAFFICKING DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/dea-led-multi-agency-investigation-dismantles-major-new-mexico-poly- drug-trafficking-drug Excerpt: Twelve individuals are facing federal drug trafficking and firearms charges as the result of a two- year DEA-led multi-agency investigation into a major New Mexico-based poly-drug trafficking organization allegedly operating between Las Vegas, N.M., and Albuquerque, N.M., under the alleged leadership of Robert Padilla, 42, of Albuquerque 2018/10/11 [Hobbs/Meth, Cocaine, Marijuana/Trafficking] Hobbs Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms Laws: Plea Agreement Recommends 15-Year Prison Sentence https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/hobbs-man-pleads-guilty-violating-federal-drug-trafficking-and- firearms-laws Excerpt: Robert Pena, 38, of Hobbs, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to violating the federal drug trafficking and firearms laws. Pena’s plea agreement recommends a prison sentence of 15 years followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. According to the criminal complaint, Hobbs Police Department (HPD) officers arrested Pena in Jan. 2018, after finding a firearm and ammunition, approximately 152 grams (5.3 ounces) of methamphetamine, a small amount of cocaine and marijuana, and drug paraphernalia in Pena’s vehicle while executing a search warrant following a routine traffic stop. 2018/10/04 [Carlsbad/Meth/Trafficking/Firearms] Eighth Member of Southeastern New Mexico Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/eighth-member-southeastern-new-mexico-drug-trafficking- organization-pleads-guilty-drug Excerpt: Robert C. Ponce, 43, of Carlsbad, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Ponce is the eighth of the ten defendants charged as the result of a multi- agency investigation into a criminal organization that was trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine and firearms in southeastern New Mexico to plead guilty. https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/eighth-member-southeastern-new-mexico-drug-trafficking- organization-pleads-guilty-drug 2017/12/14 [Meth, Heroin Trafficking] Last Member of Taos County-Based Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Ring Pleads Guilty: Defendants Prosecuted as Part of HOPE Initiative Which Seeks to Reduce the Number of Opioid-Related Deaths in New Mexico https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/last-member-taos-county-based-drug-trafficking-and-money- laundering-ring-pleads-guilty Excerpt: Jason Duran, 43, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty yesterday afternoon in federal court in Santa Fe, N.M., to a drug trafficking charge as the result of a 15-month DEA-led multi-agency investigation into a Taos County-based drug trafficking organization led by Ivan Romero, 41, of El Prado, N.M. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Duran will be sentenced to a maximum of 100 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. Duran, Ivan Romero and six co-defendants initially were charged with methamphetamine trafficking, heroin trafficking and money laundering offenses in an eight-count indictment filed in Dec. 2015. The indictment was superseded in Feb. 2016 to add a ninth defendant, Elena Carabajal, 27, of El Prado, and five additional charges. The superseding indictment charged Ivan Romero, Duran and his seven co-defendants with conspiring to distribute heroin and methamphetamine from at least June 2012 through Dec. 2015. It also charged Ivan Romero, Ricco Romero, 28, of Taos, Melissa Romero, 38, of El Prado, and Wilma Romero, 67, of Taos, with conspiring to launder heroin trafficking proceeds. https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/last-member-taos-county-based-drug-trafficking-and-money- laundering-ring-pleads-guilty 2017/09/01 Federal prosecution into Ayudando Alpha, Inc., d/b/a “Ayudando Guardians, Inc.” (Ayudando Guardians). https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/ayudando-guardians Excerpt: According to the indictment, Ayudando – which means “helping” in Spanish – receives government benefit payments from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Social Security Administration on behalf of many of its clients, and acts as a fiduciary or representative payee for these clients by paying their expenses and maintaining the balances for the benefit of the clients. The indictment alleges that Harris and Moore, the primary owners and operators of Ayudando, have embezzled millions of dollars from their special needs clients to support lavish lifestyles for themselves and their families. The charges against Ayudando, Harris and Moore are the result of an ongoing multi- agency investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service , Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/ayudando-guardians 2017/04/28 Twenty-Eight Alleged Members of Mexican Drug Trafficking Organization Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking and International Money Laundering Offenses DTO Allegedly Imported Large Quantities of Heroin, Methamphetamine and Cocaine from Mexico, which were Distributed in New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky and Illinois. DEA-Led Investigation Included Seizures of 30 Kilograms of Heroin, 64 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, 17 Kilograms of Cocaine, 20 Kilograms of Marijuana, 24 Firearms, $102,000 in Currency and Three Vehicle 2017/04/28--https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/twenty-eight-alleged-members-mexican-drug- trafficking-organization-charged-federal-drug 2017/03/30 [Mescalero Apache/Meth/Trafficking] Mescalero Apache Man Sentenced for Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Conviction Defendant is One of 34 Individuals Charged as Part of Investigation into Methamphetamine Trafficking on the Mescalero Apache Reservation 2017/03/30--https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/mescalero-apache-man-sentenced-federal- methamphetamine-trafficking-conviction Glen Joel Lester, 39, a member of the Mescalero Apache Nation who resides in Mescalero, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction.Lester was one of 34 individuals charged in Dec. 2015 with federal and tribal drug offenses as the result of an 18-month multi-agency investigation led by the DEA and BIA into methamphetamine trafficking on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Eighteen defendants, including five members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe and 13 non- Natives were charged in six federal indictments and a federal criminal complaint 2017/03/30--https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/mescalero-apache-man-sentenced-federal- methamphetamine-trafficking-conviction 2017/03/29 [Socorro/Meth/Trafficking] Socorro Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Conviction. Defendant is One of 34 Individuals Charged as Part of Investigation into Methamphetamine Trafficking on the Mescalero Apache Reservation https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/socorro-man-sentenced-prison-federal-methamphetamine- trafficking-conviction Carlos Tafoya, Jr., 35, of Socorro, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 13 years in prison for his conviction on methamphetamine trafficking charges. Tafoya will be on supervised release for five years after completing his prison sentence. Tafoya was one of 34 individuals charged in December 2015, with federal and tribal drug offenses as the result of an 18-month multi- agency investigation led by the DEA and BIA into methamphetamine trafficking on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/socorro-man-sentenced-prison-federal-methamphetamine- trafficking-conviction 2016/11/09 [Raton woman/Bernalillo County area of crimes/Meth/Heroin/Trafficking] Raton Woman Sentenced to 66 Months for Federal Drug Trafficking Conviction. Defendant Prosecuted Under “Worst of the Worst” Anti-Violence Initiative and HOPE Initiative, which Seeks to Reduce the Number of Opioid-Related Deaths in New Mexico https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/raton-woman-sentenced-66-months-federal-drug-trafficking- conviction 2015/11/20 [New Mexico & beyond inc. Tijeras/Marijuana/Trafficking] Federal Indictment Charges Eight with Participating in Major Marijuana Trafficking and Money Laundering Ring Drug Trafficking Organization Allegedly Distributed High-Grade Marijuana https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/federal-indictment-charges-eight-participating-major-marijuana- trafficking-and-money 2015/04/24 [San Juan County/Meth Trafficking Leader] Ring Leader of Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring in San Juan County Sentenced to 114 Months in Federal Prison. Defendant is One of Twenty-Nine Charged in February 2014 with Trafficking Methamphetamine in San Juan County https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/ring-leader-methamphetamine-trafficking-ring-san-juan-county- sentenced-114-months-federal Excerpt: Isaac Anaya, 31, of Farmington, N.M., was sentenced yesterday afternoon in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., for trafficking methamphetamine in San Juan County, N.M. Anaya will serve a 114 month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release. Anaya is one of 29 individuals charged in Feb. 2014, with drug trafficking offenses as the result of a multi-agency investigation targeting drug trafficking in northwestern New Mexico. The investigation culminated on Feb. 26, 2014, when 26 of the defendants were arrested during a law enforcement operation led by Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) and the HIDTA Region II Narcotics Task Force. Two other defendants were arrested during the course of the investigation and the final defendant was arrested on March 3, 2014. The 29 defendants were charged as a result of Operation “Brown Ice,” a year-long investigation that initially targeted a methamphetamine trafficking organization led by Anaya that distributed quantities of methamphetamine throughout San Juan County and expanded to include other drug trafficking activity in the area. The investigation was designated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. 2014/04/02 [Chimayo/heroin/trafficking] Chimayo Woman Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Heroin Trafficking Conviction https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/chimayo-woman-sentenced-three-years-federal-prison-heroin- trafficking-conviction Excerpt: Dora Martinez, 50, of Chimayo, N.M., was sentenced in federal court this afternoon to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for her heroin trafficking conviction. Martinez was arrested on Aug. 5, 2013, on an indictment charging her with possession of heroin with intent to distribute. According to the indictment, Martinez unlawfully possessed more than 100 grams of heroin on April 22, 2013 in Rio Arriba County, N.M. https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/chimayo-woman-sentenced-three-years-federal-prison-heroin- trafficking-conviction 2014/02/26 Multi-agency investigation leads charges against 29 indiv’ trafficking in San Juan County, NM https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/multi-agency-investigation-leads-charges-against-twenty-nine- individuals-trafficking 2013/06/24 [Belen/Meth/Trafficking] Mexican National Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearms Conviction 2013/06/24--https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/mexican-national-sentenced-175-years-federal-prison- methamphetamine-trafficking-and Excerpt: Jesus Lopez-Valle, his brother Hector Manuel Lopez-Valle, 24, a Mexican national also from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, and Adaucto Chavez-Meza, 20, a legal permanent resident from Chihuahua, Mexico, were arrested on criminal complaints in March 2012, after they attempted to sell approximately four pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover officer. At the time, the three men were living in Belen, N.M., and the Lopez-Valle brothers were illegally in the United States. The three men were indicted on March 28, 2012, and charged with conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. 2013/05/15 Last of Nine Defendants Charged With Participation in Anthony, N.M., Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/last-nine-defendants-charged-participation-anthony-nm-drug- trafficking-ring-sentenced 2013/03/05 2013/03/05--https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/thirteen-cibola-county-residents-charged-drug- trafficking-and-firearms-offenses 2012/12/17 [Albuquerque & likely beyond/Cocaine, Marijuana/Trafficking/Laundering] Nineteen members of New Mexico Drug Trafficking Organization Indicted ON DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-nm/legacy/2013/04/15/2012-12-17_roybal_et_al_pr.pdf The investigation, code-named “Operation Rain Check,” was designated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) program….According to the indictment, Christopher Roybal and ten others conspired to distribute quantities of cocaine in New Mexico between Aug. 2011 and Dec. 2012. The indictment alleges that certain defendants distributed cocaine on four occasions between Aug. 2011 and April 2012. It further alleges that Christopher Roybal and nine others conspired to distribute marijuana between Oct. 2011 and Dec. 2012, and charges certain defendants with distributing marijuana on nine occasions between Oct. 2011 and April 2012. The indictment also includes three separate money laundering conspiracies, 22 money laundering offenses, and 18 “telephone… https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-nm/legacy/2013/04/15/2012-12-17_roybal_et_al_pr.pdf K KFOX 2018/07/20 [Near T or C/Heroin/Fentanyl/Trafficking] Mexican man pleads guilty to drug trafficking heroin, fentanyl. By Jessica Gonzalez https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/mexican-man-pleads-guilty-to-drug-trafficking-heroin-fentanyl Excerpt: A man arrested after Border Patrol agents found heroin and fentanyl hidden in his vehicle pleaded guilty to the trafficking charges. Roberto Esmerardo Lopez-Gaxiola, 35, of Mexico, pleaded guilty in a federal courtroom in Las Cruces on Thursday. Lopez-Gaziola was arrested on March 14 when he drove to the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint north of Las Cruces, near Truth or Consequences, federal officials said. https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/mexican-man-pleads-guilty-to-drug-trafficking-heroin-fentanyl KOAT 2019/12/20 [Fentanyl] NMSP seize massive amount of fentanyl. By Sasha Lenninger 2019/12/20--https://www.koat.com/article/nmsp-seize-massive-amount-of-fentanyl/30300907 2012 [San Juan County/Drug Trafficking Ring] Police: Major drug trafficking ring busted. By Alana Grimstad. https://www.koat.com/article/police-major-drug-trafficking-ring-busted/5041612 Excerpt: SANTA FE, N.M. —Federal and local police agencies said they've been working for three years to take down a huge drug operation run out of Santa Fe County. Fourteen men have been indicted by a federal grand jury, and all but one are in custody. Eight of the men were arrested Thursday with the help of SWAT teams. One of the men arrested was a civil engineering technician with the New Mexico Transportation Department. https://www.koat.com/article/police-major-drug-trafficking-ring-busted/5041612 2012/06/08 Large drug bust made in East Mountains Two arrested after bust in Moriarty https://www.koat.com/article/large-drug-bust-made-in-east-mountains-1/5041238 KOB 2019/07/24 Authorities make massive drug bust near Gallup https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/authorities-make-massive-drug-bust-near-gallup/5434379/ KRQE 2019/08/03 Suspect connected to Albuquerque drug bust arrested in Utah . By KRQE MEDIA https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/suspect-connected-to-albuquerque-drug-bust-arrested-in-utah/ Excerpt: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Another suspect connected to a massive drug bust in Albuquerque has been picked up in Utah. Back in January, investigators uncovered the operation at an apartment complex near Central and Juan Tabo. That’s where they found more than half a million dollars worth of meth, and thousands of counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl. https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/suspect-connected-to-albuquerque-drug-bust-arrested-in-utah/ 2020/03/03 Roswell man arrested on drug trafficking charges. [Roswell/Meth] By KRQE Media https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/roswell-man-arrested-on-drug-trafficking-charges/ A Roswell man is facing charges for trafficking meth. A narcotics task force was called out to a residence on the 300 block of East Poe Street over the weekend.When officers arrived, they found more than 470 grams of methamphetamine and a gun. Officers arrested 61-year-old Jerry Louis Matta. https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/roswell-man-arrested-on-drug-trafficking-charges/ 2018/12/13 Man accused of running meth distribution center out of Albuquerque business. By Brittany Bade. https://www.krqe.com/news/man-accused-of-running-meth-distribution-center-out-of-albuquerque- business/ Excerpt: A local business was really just a front for a meth distribution center, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Now, the Albuquerque man who runs that company and one of his dealers are facing federal charges. According to a year-long investigation outlined in a federal search warrant, Javier Jaquez was using his business, Jaquez Brothers Trucking, as a front for a major meth operation. https://www.krqe.com/news/man-accused-of-running-meth-distribution-center-out-of-albuquerque- business/ KUNM 2017/02/01 Police Chief: Families crying out for help. By Ed Williams [Opioids Espanola] https://www.kunm.org/post/police-chief-families-crying-out-help Excerpt: When a public health crisis gets out of control, it can overwhelm law enforcement agencies. That’s what’s happened with the Española Police Department as it deals with a decades-old opioid epidemic and all the crime that goes with it. To understand just how big of a drug problem Española has, just ask Officer Anthony Armijo. “It’s the norm. For everyone, it’s the norm that drugs are here, drugs are being used, you have family that grew up with it,” he said. “For example, I have family that live here, you know, they’re addicts. I’ve arrested them before.” If there’s any police department that understands what an opioid epidemic means for a community, it’s this one. Even the chief of police has had addiction struggles within his own family. This town of 10,000 people has one of the highest opioid overdose rates in America. Heroin addiction has gone on out of control here year after year. It’s a crisis that’s torn families apart, strained the health system, and stretched the police department to its limit. https://www.kunm.org/post/police-chief-families-crying-out-help L LA Monitor 2017/07/04 [Jemez Springs/meth] Woman in possession of meth arrested June 20. By Sarah von Sternberg https://www.lamonitor.com/category/tags/meth Las Cruces Sun 2018/04/26 [Las Cruces/trafficking] 16 snared in Las Cruces drug trafficking investigation https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/crime/2018/04/26/16-snared-las-cruces-drug-trafficking- investigation/553854002/ 2019/06/15 Hatch Police stop SUV carrying drugs, stolen gun, undocumented migrants. Bethany Freudenthal https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/2019/06/15/hatch-police-stop-suv-carrying-drugs-stolen-gun- undocumented-migrants/1461311001/ Hatch incident Hatch Police pulled over a Chevy Trailblazer on Wednesday. Inside were seven people — five of them who said they were in the country illegally — heroin, a stolen pistol and a glass pipe, court documents state. El Paso man Nikolai Colunga, 26, was driving the SUV. Passengers included his girlfriend Brenda Jimenez, authorities said, and five others who had only one form of identification among them all — a Honduran passport. Las Vegas Optic 2019/09/24 [Las Vegas/Trafficking/Meth/Cocaine/Heroin] Federal agency alleges someone within LVPD aided drug trafficker. By Ryan Lowery https://www.lasvegasoptic.com/content/federal-agency-alleges-someone-within-lvpd-aided-drug-trafficker For more than a year, the Drug Enforcement Administration has been investigating, and attempting to disrupt, the flow of illegal drugs into Las Vegas, a search warrant affidavit filed in U.S. District Court shows. The lengthy investigation focused on a drug trafficking organization led by Robert Corbin Padilla, who the DEA alleges is responsible for trafficking the majority of drugs into Las Vegas, but according to the affidavit, agents believe one or more people working for the Las Vegas Police Department had been alerting Padilla to details of the investigation against him. Federal agents from the DEA and FBI — along with officers from Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service and New Mexico State Police — swarmed Las Vegas last week as a joint task force executed multiple search warrants. While the FBI investigation focused primarily on members and associates of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang, the target of the DEA investigation was Padilla and those working with him. The recently-unsealed search warrant affidavit details DEA agent’s monthslong investigation of Padilla, and alleges he was responsible for 70 percent of the cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine coming into Las Vegas. Though Padilla resided in Albuquerque, authorities allege he often traveled to Las Vegas to “store, retrieve and distribute (drugs), as well as collect drug proceeds.” https://www.lasvegasoptic.com/content/federal-agency-alleges-someone-within-lvpd-aided-drug-trafficker M Masscops 2009/12/21 N.M. police raid upscale homes in meth bust. By T.J. Wilham. https://www.masscops.com/threads/n-m-police-raid-upscale-homes-in-meth-bust.67471/ Updates:2021/01/22 PAGE STARTED--Articles-3, editing; response to overage on pages; 2020/05/14: ICE-2020/02/28 added; 2020/05/13: Santa Fe Reporter- 2019/08/05 added; 2020/04/27 Brief Links/created separate page; created separate page Areas; added articles: Deming Headlight-2020/02/14 Alamagordo News- 2020/01/13; Alb. Jrnl-2013/04/04; NewsChannel 10-2019/12/03 and 2019/04/04; DEA-2019/09/20; info on DEA/Task Force; Structural/organizational corrections and additions made; 2020/03/27-ICE 2014/02/27; Daily Times-2019/07/26; 2020/02/22 two drug pages merged-policefactor nm drugs and rivergold nm drugs; 10/07/2017 Justice dot gov 29 San Juan Co; police factor page started 2016/06/04

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