A 40-year-old Estancia man faces up to nine years in prison after police arrested him for methamphetamine trafficking in a buy-bust operation that underscores drug enforcement challenges even in New Mexico’s safer communities.
The man was arrested July 31 following an undercover operation in which Estancia Police Department officers worked with a confidential source to purchase methamphetamine, according to a statement from the department. Court documents show the sale took place on Thursday, with officers making the arrest afterward.
The arrest is particularly significant for Estancia, where crime rates are 29% lower than the national average, making drug trafficking cases relatively uncommon in the community of approximately 1,500 residents.
“This operation reflects our ongoing commitment to keeping Torrance County safe and drug-free,” the Estancia Police Department said in a statement. “We thank our officers for their bravery and dedication in carrying out this mission.”
The man has been charged with trafficking a controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine, which is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance under federal and state law. In New Mexico, methamphetamine trafficking is a second-degree felony carrying up to nine years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
