Is it always financially worthwhile to attend one of New Mexicos four-year public universities? Legal Statement. Officials believe the drugs were brought into the U.S. from nearby Ciudad Juarez, which is across the border from El Paso. Official websites use .gov and cocaine from Mexico across the border and up I-5 to the . Secure .gov websites use HTTPS New Mexico State Police say they found more than a dozen guns - some of them stolen - thousands in cash, a. For a $50,000 . Truck carrying $30 million in liquid meth seized in El Paso. Amid debate over transgender rights, New Mexico House OKs New Mexico legislation would prohibit discrimination New Mexico legislation would prohibit discrimination in provision of public services on basis of gender, gender identity, Colorado State slices up Lobos; UNM is a 6 seed in league tourney, If it MUST be the NIT, UNM basketball has a plan, After bill was vetoed last year, lawmakers try again to boost pay of NM judges, Gun safe storage bill inches closer to governor's desk after winning Senate approval. }); Agents working at the Ysleta port of entry in El Paso, Texas, seized 1,543 pounds of liquid methamphetamine on Feb. 12. The busts netted some 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of heroin, 20 kilograms of marijuana and 17 kilograms of cocaine. Constantly updated. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. Chavez was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center and charged with four counts of drug trafficking and three counts of possession of stolen property. Michael Guzman. googletag.enableServices(); The first-term state representative and former Albuquerque middle school math teacher grew up in Chihuahua and has an engineering degree. Carlos Martin Quintana-Arias, of Mexico, was driving a 2009 Kenworth Tractor pulling a 1996 Stoug trailer when he applied for entry into the U.S. at the Otay Mesa, California, Commercial Port of Entry on Thursday night, authorities said. Aug 4, 2021. Were going to make sure that youre always looking over your shoulder, Vigil said about dangerous Mexican drug cartels making their way into Texas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. Attorneys Peter Eicker and Matthew Nelson are prosecuting the case 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. Know of a story that needs to be covered? Bridget Archuleta is charged in Counts 1, 4, 11, and 12. Mexican law enforcement officials made four major drug busts in recent days which yielded over 120,000 lbs. Agents at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility in South Texas discovered 1,853 pounds of crystal meth on Dec. 19, in a shipment of fresh tomatoes from Mexico. BOSTON - A Weymouth man has been sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed prodigious amounts of cocaine from Puerto Rico, which he and a co-conspirator obtained via the U.S. mail. El Diario de Juarez reports that there have been 25 murders, including three people killed this past Wednesday and Thursday. Guzman once ran a major heroin and methamphetamine operation throughout the southwest. A drug-sniffing dog then alerted CBP officers to the rear door of the trailer. Today's takedown marks the latest major drug bust in the OAG's Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (S.U.R.G.E.) Sergio Ruiz was sentenced to 240 months in prison. Between August 2020 and May 2021, agents and officers recovered over 120 pounds of narcotics, over $335,000 in cash, and two guns, as well as drug paraphernalia. "We are not talking about people that simply possess. Authorities confiscated weapons, drugs, and money in the raids. All rights reserved. Investigators seized 602 pounds of cocaine, 136 pounds of crystal meth, heroin, $3.7 million and 22 firearms as part of the drug bust. Click Share This Page button to display social media links. The drug seizure . 2023 New Mexico Sun. The maximum penalty on conviction varies for each defendant. New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); We were actually looking for the individuals that were involved in the armed robberies, Mace said. The company flew its test plane for 15 minutes at low elevation above the Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington, where it Amid debate over transgender rights, New Mexico House OKs New Mexico legislation would prohibit discrimination New Mexico legislation would prohibit discrimination in provision of public services on basis of gender, gender identity. Ryan Rodriguezs girlfriend, Bridget Archuleta allegedly participated in drug sales with Rodriguez. Operation Washout Roswell ran from Nov. 16 to Nov. 19. U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales on Thursday announced federal Nov 18, 2022 Over half a million dollars in fentanyl, cocaine, meth seized at Texas-Mexico border U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted $578,456 worth of fentanyl, cocaine, and. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); Gonzales said 20 defendants were charged in the Espaola Valley, 15 of which have already been arrested. googletag.cmd.push(function() { Follow us on Twitter at @USBPChiefEPT and @CBPWestTexas. The meth was concealed in the roof of a tractor-trailer carrying imported fresh onions from Mexico. Market data provided by Factset. An arrest and seizure of more than $1 million in street drugs in New Mexico resulted in no charges and the suspect being released, authorities said. All rights reserved. Friday, February 7th, 2020 at 12:02AM. (KY3/Gray News) - A teenager in Missouri was charged with murder for a deadly high-speed crash that killed a 9-year-old boy in July 2022. Gun safe storage bill inches closer to governor's desk Republicans express concern over high-profile measure Republicans express concern over high-profile measure during Fridays two-hour debate. 1. and receive the latest news each week on business, government, real estate and more! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Want the news delivered straight to your inbox? The two largest seizures are believed to have hit the Sinaloa cartel, while the smaller seizure in Baja California happened on turf that is primarily controlled by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Tijuana Cartel. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. , VIDEO: Giant I-40 light poles sway in strong ABQ, Taxidermy birds used to make drones at New Mexico, PHOTOS: Storm leaves parts of state covered in snow, PHOTOS: Winter storm moves through NM leaving snow, PHOTOS: Storm causes snowy, icy roads across New, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. More than 50 drug dealers and distributors in different parts of the state were rounded up as part of two federal investigations, U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said Thursday. Counts 4, 6, 8, and 10 of the indictment charge certain defendants with distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base. The amount of fentanyl seized by U.S. border agents at the southern border has skyrocketed in recent years, from 70 pounds in the fiscal year 2015 to nearly 4,000 pounds from Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept . googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); A diplomatic row has frozen U.S.-Mexican efforts to target drug cartels. February 21, 2023. An indictment is only an accusation. On Oct. 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than 3,000 pounds of meth, plus heroin and fentanyl, in a semi-trailer at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. So what we have to do to make sure that these people dont continue to act and degrade the community here and our quality of life is we bring in our federal partners, said Roswell Police Chief Philip Smith. Attorney General James Busts Two Major Drug Trafficking Rings in Central New York 78 Individuals Indicted for Trafficking Cocaine, Heroin, and Fentanyl Throughout NYS; Illegal Possession of Firearms, Including Untraceable Ghost Guns AG James Has Taken More Than 1,400 Guns Off NYS's Streets Since 2019 Gonzales said 39 members of the group were charged in a federal indictment, and 26 have been arrested, so far. According to public court records allegations have been made that, Jose Mendoza, and his wife, Natalie Mendoza, were high-level suppliers of cocaine in the Espaola Valley of New Mexico. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; She was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. DEA has seized enough fentanyl this year to kill every American Drug bust uncovers enough fentanyl to kill 800K people 28 lbs. Bridget Archuleta Counts 1, 4, 11 and 12. Dona Ana. Edvardo Carlson is charged in Counts 1, 6, 7, and 8. Market data provided by Factset. Count 1 of the indictment charges all six defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; 2. Further inspection revealed that among "a few automotive" parts were 6,266 packages of drugs, officials said. The head of south central Texas DEA shares new insight on the bust . Marshals Office, New Mexico Division. This indictment is the product of a joint federal investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Region III Narcotics Task Force which includes members of the BIA, New Mexico State Police, the Santa Fe Police Department, the Santa Fe County Sheriff and the Taos Police Department. The bust has an estimated street value of approximately $800 million. He described one recent incident where deputies came across a group of 22 people in the desert, one of whom escaped from a prison in Ciudad Juarez and was wanted for a crime in the U.S. Five suspects also listed in the indictment, including the suspected leader of the organization, Luis Angel Briseo-Lopez, a Mexican national who may be living in Cuidad Jurez, remain at large. Natalie Mendoza is charged in Counts 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 12. 'EL CHAPO' GUZMAN'S FEARED SUCCESSOR CAPTURED OUTSIDE MEXICO CITY. The Otay Mesa, California, Commercial Port of Entry is one of three ports of entry in the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan region in California. To say that defense was optional would imply is was a choice. The . googletag.cmd.push(function() { Legal Statement. Violence has surged in Juarez the past few years as the New Generation Jalisco Cartel is challenging the Sinaloa and Juarez Cartels for the lucrative drug trafficking route into U.S., or plaza, especially in the Juarez Valley southeast of El Paso, Texas, a long-held Sinaloa Cartel stronghold. These types of narcotic seizures and arrests demonstrate the value of our border security mission everyday.. He was arrested on Feb. 27 and is in custody pending a detention hearing on Mar. A detention hearing was scheduled for Tuesday. So, one of the costs of prohibition is death of the consumer. During that bust, they located financial ledgers that allege the Atlanta man received over. $31M in methamphetamine hidden in trucks roof. Attorneys Peter Eicker and Matthew Nelson are prosecuting the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force 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. 2. Declaration began March 11, 2020, and NM is one of five states that still have such orders. The Otay Mesa, California, Commercial Port of Entry is one of three ports of entry in the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan region in California. All six defendants were arrested and remain in custody pending detention hearings. googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot2', [[468, 60], [728, 90], [300, 100], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767472470-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); LockA locked padlock While the truckers manifest indicated the trailer held automotive body parts, an X-Ray machine detected anomalies that required further inspection, authorities said. Still, Mace said, anything over two ounces will be a misdemeanor and possessing over eight ounces is considered a felony. According to a news release from the U.S. In the past 20 years in. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Mace said that while the driver wasnt connected to the robberies, it was obvious that something was amiss. kidnapping, false imprisonment and six counts of aggravated battery against a household member in the brutal beating of his wife. They were charged with offenses such as distributing cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription drugs and heroin. Tijuana-San Diego. The DAs office, Chaves County, Lea County, and the Roswell Police Chief expressed the importance of having federal agencies involved. We need more boots on the ground because a wall will not solve illegal immigration or drug trafficking, Vigil said. In short, drug prohibition creates drug kingpins. Santa Fe County District Attorney Angela Spence Pacheco said she appreciated federal authorities taking an interest in the drug problems that have plagued her part of New Mexico. Nineteen suspected members of the ring were arrested. DRUG CARTELS REUSING MEXICAN TUNNELS ALREADY DISCOVERED BUT LEFT UNFILLED. Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella, State Police Colonel Nathan Noyes and United States Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA") Special Agent-in-Charge Brian D. Boyle announce that ten individuals were arrested as the result of a months-long, multi-agency drug trafficking investigation conducted by DEA, the State Police, and the Attorney General's Drug Task Force. Andrea Rodriguez is charged in Counts 1 and 3. Federal agents arrested them Feb. 27 Thursday with assistance from state and local law enforcement. Amazon opening three San Antonio facilities. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. In New Mexico, fentanyl and methamphetamine overtook heroin and prescription opioids as the top cause. Friday night on, Senate Bill 2 would bring the pay of state Supreme Court justices in line with. Here are five of the biggest U.S.-Mexico border drug busts this year. The recent arrest of 23 Mexican cartel operatives in New Mexico and West Texas is prime example of newly empowered local and federal law enforcement officials whose attitude reflects that of the Trump administration, some lawmen say. Washington, D.C. Man Convicted After Nine-Day Trial for Use of a Firearm in Connection with a Murder and a Robbery, and for a Drug Distribution Conspiracy. During record checks at the station, agents determined that the man had an active warrant for his arrest in relation to a 2002 probation violation for Aggravated Assault w/ a Deadly Weapon by the Dallas Sheriffs Office. }); As an anti-prohibition activist, it is interesting that these busts are being made. When were talking a couple of hundred pounds of marijuana, it smells, Mace said. The defendants allegedly communicated extensively by telephone and text message about their drug trafficking business. Contact, Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved, FreightWaves, Inc, Five biggest Mexico border drug busts of 2020, Loaded & Rolling (Enterprise Fleet News/Analysis), Mexican police find $62M in drugs in abandoned truck near border, CBP finds $61M worth of drugs in loads of cactus and limes, $37M in meth discovered in fresh tomato shipment, $31M in methamphetamine hidden in trucks roof, Truck carrying $30 million in liquid meth seized in El Paso. Gonzales said the Espaola Valley has a very serious heroin problem and has grappled with it for many years. Additionally, defendant Edvardo Carlson is alleged to have conducted drug transactions at Ryan Rodriguezs direction. Date: 3/3 8:39 pm. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Most recent. An official website of the United States government. Carlos Martin Quintana-Arias, of Mexico, was driving a 2009 Kenworth Tractor pulling a 1996 Stoug trailer when he applied for entry into the U.S. at the Otay Mesa, California, Commercial Port of Entry on Thursday night, authorities said. Jurez police and the Mexican military seized a huge drug load of fentanyl, crystal methamphetamine and marijuana estimated to be worth more than $60 million. Despite the deputy seizing that much marijuana, its unlikely that the suspect will face charges, due to a technicality. In addition, the DEA seized 120 pounds of methamphetamine worth over a million dollars at street value. It is important to note that an arrest or criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered evidence of guilt. of cocaine found in wheels of traveler's wheelchair at airport NIXA, Mo. A traffic stop for a minor violation led deputies to nearly 400 pounds of meth worth $1.5 million. At a press conference in Las Cruces, N.M. on Friday announcing the bust, Doa Ana County Sheriff Enrique Kiki Vigil essentially echoed Attorney General Jeff Sessions mantra on how to deal with criminal enterprises involving illegal immigrants. The Southern California seizure occurred on Oct. 2, 2020. Friday, federal and local law enforcement announced the results of an operation in southeast New Mexico that. An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A lot of that is drug smuggling, a lot of those drugs end up here and end up on the streets in these communities, we have an obligation to help, said Eric, the Special Agent in charge of the Homeland Security New Mexico and West Texas Division. So far this year, there have been about 250 people murdered in the city. Our region is a rich environment that can be exploited by criminals, said Chief Gloria Chavez of the El Paso Sector. Official websites use .gov New Mexico Supreme Court: Juveniles who plead can appeal Ruling stems from the case of Christopher Rodriguez, who was sentenced as an adult to 14 years in prison for his role in the Universal Hydrogens test plane takes flight. But, he add, he doesnt see the proposed border wall as a solution. On August 6, U.S.Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Alamogordo immigration checkpoint on U.S. Highway 54, encountered a gray Jeep Patriot approaching the primary inspection area. April has been a relatively peaceful month so far in Juarez. "This is a staggering seizure that demonstrates the extent of our current fight against mass production of methamphetamine and fentanyl," acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said, thanking all the agencies involved in the bust. Traffic stop leads to drug . ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. 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. Mexican police find $62M in drugs in abandoned truck near border Mexican authorities found 25,000 pounds worth of narcotics hidden inside a tractor-trailer that was abandoned just south of the Mexican border on Dec. 6. More Info. Subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Cruz Lopez-Acevedo was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Mexican authorities found 25,000 pounds worth of narcotics hidden inside a tractor-trailer that was abandoned just south of the Mexican border on Dec. 6. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Police seized fentanyl, meth, firearms, and more than $5,000. Six people have been arrested by ICE on various drug trafficking charges involving crack cocaine. U.S. Customs and Border Protection made a record-breaking seizure of fentanyl and methamphetamine on Thursday, busting a Mexican citizen who was trying to haul the drugs into to the U.S. inside a. Updated: 11:05 PM CST November 13, 2020. Click below to share your thoughts. googletag.cmd.push(function() { Marshal in El Paso, Vigil said he is aware of how drug cartels are impacting the region. The Mexican Army conducted the second and third drug busts on August 17 and 18 in Baja California, seizing approximately 2,700 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl in a remote area known as the San Fernando Canyon, according to a report from Breitbart Texas. Bryan Llenas reports on the attorney general's efforts on 'Special Reports'. }); Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) found a combined $61 million worth of methamphetamine and marijuana on Aug. 7, in two separate shipments of cactus and lime from Mexico at the Otay Mesa border crossing. charlotte jones anderson family best airbnb near london miss scarlet and the duke based on book recent drug bust in new mexico 2020. recent drug bust in new mexico 2020. by . The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has seized approximately one million pills laced with fentanyl allegedly linked to the Sinaloa Cartel in what authorities say is the biggest bust for . According to public court records, Jose Mendoza, and his wife, Natalie Mendoza, allegedly were high-level suppliers of cocaine in the Espanola Valley of New Mexico. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. The Fifth Judicial District Attorney said Roman Reyes-Mesa, who is still on the loose and wanted for conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, is why the operation happened. Agents from Southwest Border Group 2 began investigating a large scale . The CBP confirmed that the drug seizures were the largest busts in the U.S. for both meth and fentanyl for this year and last year, prosecutors said. 2. WASHINGTON (AP) The Treasury Department on Wednesday sanctioned a group of people and companies connected to Mexico's powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, including a sibling involved in the family-run Valenzuela drug trafficking organization. or redistributed. A 29-year-old who posed as a food delivery driver and tried to smuggle illegal opioids into an Adelaide medi-hotel has . Assistant U.S. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. CBP finds $61M worth of drugs in loads of cactus and limes. An official website of the United States government. Mexican Authorities Make Massive Drug Busts Worth Billions. "That's a record number of drug overdoses in the history of tracking these types of statistics," Olesky said. Theyll bring amounts of this size across this border and store them in stash houses until it is large enough to move to other parts of the country, Vigil said. 40,000 Fentanyl Pills, 20 Lbs. Quintana-Arias faces federal drug charges and was arraigned Friday. All rights reserved. Natalie Mendoza allegedly kept records of drug sales and collected proceeds from drug transactions. The maximum penalty on conviction is up to four years in prison. (Google Maps). of narcotics that have an estimated street value of approximately $5 billion. Dona Ana . The busts netted some 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of heroin, 20 kilograms of marijuana and 17 kilograms of cocaine. A drug bust in the International District last week turned up much more than dope. Count 12 charges certain defendants with possession with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base. The Mexican Navy conducted the first drug bust on August 16 in Sinaloa, Mexico, which is home to the . Photo Courtesy ICE. The 16-month investigation targeted members of the Sinaloa Cartel, once headed by Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who is currently in jail awaiting trial in Brooklyn Federal Court. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested six defendants Feb. 17, charged with various drug trafficking offenses involving crack cocaine. This month the DEA made the biggest meth bust in American history: 2200 pounds of meth, nearly 900 pounds of cocaine, and 13 pounds of heroin. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Some are suspected to have returned to Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection's San Diego field office announced this week that the total amount of narcotics seized at Southern . Jun 29, 2022. swansea council parking contact number . New Mexico Bookings. Since 2016, fentanyl abuse has been a primary driver of overdose deaths across the nation. }); Almost $400 million in narcotics were seized from trucks attempting to cross from Mexico into the U.S. during 2020. 3 Mar. More than 17,500 pounds (7,930 kilograms) of meth and 389 pounds (176 kilograms) of fentanyl were discovered last Thursday hidden inside a tractor-trailer at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in [] , Memorial, memes honor ABQs fallen Iron Man statue, Whats happening around New Mexico Feb. 24 Mar. Breitbart Texas Robert Arce, a former law enforcement official who specialized in drug crime, reported that the Sinaloa Cartel has stepped up the production of methamphetamine and opioid-based products to offset any cash flow losses attributed to the legalization of marijuana in the United States., The Drug Enforcement Administrations most recent threat assessment ranks the Mexican drug cartels as the greatest criminal drug threat to the United States; no other group is currently positioned to challenge them., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. February 16, 2023. 0:51. During the stop, a search of the vehicle was conducted. 5. Submit Your Story By Sam Jackson Feb 19, 2022 An arrest and seizure of more than $1 million in street drugs in New Mexico resulted in no charges and the suspect being released, authorities said. He is looking forward to the 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents pledged by President Trump in one of his first executive orders. (CNSNews.com) - President Biden on Wednesday evening hit back at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for blaming his administration for two fentanyl deaths that occurred before he took office. According to court records, Jose Mendoza and Natalie Mendoza also laundered proceeds from their drug trafficking by making large cash payments on auto loans and large cash deposits into accounts at credit unions. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. "Since the seizure didnt meet that weight requirement, the federal government declined to prosecute, simply interviewing the suspect and releasing him.. SAN ANTONIO Nearly $30 million worth of drugs are seized from a Bexar County home. recent drug bust in new mexico 2020. trader joe's chocolate ganache cake LIVE; madison 56ers apparel; recent drug bust in new mexico 2020. why was carrie's sister dropped from king of queens . or redistributed. During the traffic stop, Troopers identified several indicators of criminal activity, and a drug-sniffing K9 was requested to the scene, who subsequently indicated to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle. It really gives off a strong odor.. Manuel Varela. Police responded to the Mountain Run Shopping Center after Chavezs battered wife ran inside the Smiths grocery to hide from him. Sign up for the New Mexico Sun Newsletter, Juniper Basin Recreation Area will offer 'beautiful landscapes' for future bike park. According to a story by news station KRQE, Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace said authorities were investigating a string of armed robberies in the area; the traffic stop and resulting seizure resulted because deputies were on high alert.. A grand jury returned an indictment against the defendants on Feb. 25. The individual was booked into the Hidalgo County Jail pending criminal prosecution. He said as part of the operation, 15 people were arrested on federal drug charges and 14 others were arrested on state drug charges. ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - Crime in New Mexico continues to be a growing problem. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Photo Courtesy ICE ICE-HSI NEWS U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested six defendants Feb. 17, charged with various drug trafficking offenses involving crack cocaine. Gonzales said the dealers arrested were mostly longtime Espaola Valley residents. Agents said they were tipped off about Daniels after a seizure of $7 million in Mexico last year. A massive drug bust involved over 25 people being indicted by a federal grand jury April 8 where they were allegedly involved in international money laundering and a meth trafficking scheme. An officer who works on a federal drug task force made a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle on Feb. 10. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. AG Sessions vows to eradicate MS-13 gang violence, Violence has surged in Juarez the past few years. Five additional suspects were also charged and remain at large. Pitch your story to The New Mexico Sun. The federal threshold for prosecuting marijuana crimes goes by weight, and there must be 1,000 lbs or more of the drug, Mace said.