Cartel-Related Activity In Dona Ana County

Mexican cartel-related activity in Dona Ana County is nothing new, Sheriff Todd Garrison said.

But this kind of headline is unsettling to hear, residents said.

“It’s scary,” a woman said.

While others said, they see no reason to worry.

“Until it’s like right in my face, I really won’t think about it too much,” a man said.

For some, this is the last thing they expected.

“Well I don?t like the idea of drug cartels being here,” another man said.

But like it or not, cartels are operating here in Dona Ana County, Garrison said.

“It’s definitely an issue that has been in this county, but it’s been in this county for a very long time,? Garrison said.

To some extent, Interstate-10, Interstate-25, and Highway-70 serve as a pipeline for drug and weapons trafficking to other parts of the country, Garrison said.

“Anytime you see narcotics or illegal substances in this county you can assume, unless it was grown in someone’s backyard here in Dona Ana County, it comes from Mexico or from the cartels on the other side across the border,” Garrison said.

On September 23rd in Sunland Park, authorities seized $40,000 and two handguns from a vehicle headed south to the border, Garrison said. Four men were involved, none of whom were detained, Garrison said, but arrests are pending in the investigation. This is just one of four recent seizures into illegal trafficking in Dona Ana County totaling more than $400,000.

“I think one of the important things to realize though is that as long as there’s money to be made there’s going to be people on both sides of the border trying to collect that,” Garrison said.

Combating cartel-related activity is a multi-agency effort involving federal, county, city, and state law enforcement, Garrison said.

“I do hope they’re collaborating,? a resident said. ?Whether they’re collaborating enough to be ahead of the game, I really don?t know, but I kind of doubt it.”

But continued spillover is a main concern among those who live here.

“Certainly you don?t want drug cartels in Mexico, but you don?t want them in Las Cruces even more so,” a resident said.

A stop to illegal trafficking in Dona Ana County is the ultimate goal but realistically, Garrison said, it is impossible to know if the end is near.