Drugs Heading to Liberal Stopped in New Mexico

On March 8th, 2022, at approximately at 2:36pm, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) K9 Police Officer Nicholas Jackson (PO Jackson) conducted a traffic stop in Cibola County, New Mexico on Interstate 40, at the 107 mile marker, within the exterior boundaries of the Pueblo of Laguna on a 2017 Ford Explorer SUV bearing a Kansas license plate for failure to signal. Upon initial contact, Police Officer Jackson observed several drug paraphernalia items and one suspected blue colored fentanyl pill in plain view along with the odor of burnt marijuana. Officer Jackson later identified tradecraft associated with illegal smuggling activities during general conversations with the male driver and the female passenger as he issued a warning. The driver and passenger both later denied consent to search the SUV. Cibola County K9 Deputy Julian Armijo and US Homeland Security Special Agent responded to the scene for assistance. During the search, approximately 3 plastic parcels containing a multiple suspected Fentanyl imprinted with “M-30” concealed under the center console within the factory void space. The pills were later field tested to be Fentanyl. The driver and passenger later confessed to transporting the Fentanyl from Phoenix, Arizona to Liberal, Kansas. Investigation continues by HSI Special Agents.
�Total Weight –
473.437 Gross Grams or 1.04 Gross Pounds

Street Value –
$ 69,120.78