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Release Early Morning Drug Raid Nets Large Number Of Arrests MAR 30--On March 30, 2004, over 100 Federal, State, and Local Officers participated in a coordinated drug raid, which concluded a multi-agency investigation resulting in the arrest of 100 individuals wanted for drug trafficking and weapons violations. The raid was the culmination of a joint investigation which began in May 2003, by the Lea County Drug Task Force (LCDTF), which is a multi-jurisdictional unit comprised of investigators from the Lea County Sheriff’s Department, the New Mexico State Police Narcotic’s Unit, and Hobbs, Lovinton, Eunice, Jal, and Tatum Police Department’s. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Mobile Enforcement Team also joined in the investigation in August of 2003. The Hobbs Police Department submitted a request to the Team prior to launching the investigation. The Mobile Enforcement Team is a specialized unit of the DEA which targets major narcotic distribution and violence associated with drug activity. The shared resources of the Lea County Drug Task Force, New Mexico State Police, and DEA greatly contributed to the effectiveness of the resulting investigation. At approximately 6:00 a.m., officers served more than 100 arrest warrants on 230 charges throughout Lea County. The charges ranged from trafficking in illegal narcotics, conspiracy, and illegal possession of firearms, resulting in potential sentences from six months in jail for first time offenders to life imprisonment for the more serious drug traffickers.The investigations were initiated in response to increased drug activity and the resulting violence, which has plagued Lea County in recent years. Hobbs Chief of Police, Johnny Gonzales added, “We were very fortunate to have the DEA’s Mobile Enforcement Team come to Hobbs and assist the Lea County Drug Task Force in this multi-agency operation. The LCDTF and all the agencies involved worked very hard to address the narcotics problems in Hobbs and Lea County. It is because of this hard work that this operation was successful.” Arrests made throughout the course of the joint investigation had already led to increased price for cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin as local supplies began to diminish. Additionally, approximately 20 methamphetamine labs were seized and dismantled, as a result of this operation. The joint investigation resulted in the seizure of over $37,000 cash, 6 firearms, 4 vehicles, 33 ounces of methamphetamine, 64 ounces of powder cocaine, 32 ounces of crack cocaine and 8 pounds of marijuana. Seventy-five (75) of the defendants will be prosecuted by the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Additionally, twenty-five (25) Defendants will be prosecuted by the Las Cruces United States Attorney’s Office, as Federal defendant’s, due to the seriousness of offenses rising to the level of Federal prosecution guidelines. Several other arrests are still pending. In additional to those agencies listed above, that were involved in the investigation, New Mexico State Police, numerous law-enforcement agencies from across New Mexico and West Texas, and Federal agencies including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, New Mexico National Guard and Air National Guard assisted in the executions of the arrest warrants. “I would like to commend Capt. Mike Mann, Commander of the Lea County Drug Task Force and all of the investigators who worked for many months to make this happen. I also want to thank the DEA, and their Mobile Enforcement Team, for their tremendous effort resulting in Federal prosecutions of many major drug traffickers from Lea County. This raid reflects the successful results obtained when there is mutual cooperation between law enforcement agencies,” said Region VI Task Force Executive Board Chairman, Sheriff Keith Rice. ### |
