According to the sheriff’s department: On August 18, 2022, a Joint Task Force operation was put into effect working closely with other agencies. During this operation, they were able to intercept the illegal drugs and took Laura Whittenburger of Rio Rancho into custody.
During the operation, Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office intercepted the shipment of 22,000 fentanyl pills and 4 pounds of meth in which 8000 fentanyl pills were destined to hit the streets of Sandoval County. Whittenburger is facing charges of Conspiracy to Trafficking Dangerous Illegal Narcotics. The street value of all the illegal drugs seized during this operation was between $40,000 to $55,000.00.
On October 17, 2022, the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic enforcement operation within Sandoval County. The operation involved the use of Patrol Deputies, the K9 Unit, and the Street Crimes and Intelligence Unit. Deputies conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle in the Town of Bernalillo. After contacting of the driver of the vehicle, there were indications of possible criminal activity. K9 Deputy AJ Noriega deployed K9 Titan to conduct an exterior search of the vehicle for potential illegal drug contraband. K9 Titan gave a positive indication of possible contraband in the vehicle. A warrant search was obtained for the vehicle and that search uncovered Fentanyl tablets and other drug equipment within the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Aleah Moore and she was ultimately arrested for Trafficking Fentanyl and is currently being held without bond at the Sandoval County Detention Center.
Sheriff Jesse James Casaus stated that since the Street Crimes Intelligence Unit has been created and along with other divisions of the department, they have seized over a half million dollars in illegal drugs.