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LAS CRUCES -- Four Doña Ana County men are facing up to 10 years in prison after a Metro Narcotics investigation ended with their arrests Saturday.
Osvaldo Espinoza, 41, of Hatch; Jose Perez Jr., 33, Jose Lionel Gonzalez, 31, and Jaime Sanchez, 28, all of Chaparral, were charged with methamphetamine trafficking, according to the case agent at the multi-agency anti-drug task force, who requested his name not be used for security reasons.
Metro Narcotics seized 13 ounces of methamphetamine, which can sell for about $50,000 in street-level amounts, and 61 grams of cocaine worth about $2,500 from Gonzalez, who received an additional trafficking charge, according to authorities.
None of the four are believed to be connected to gang or cartel activity, the agent said.
Undercover agents initially made contact with Espinoza, who facilitated meeting the other men in public locations, the agent said.
"The investigation led us to conduct undercover buys in Las Cruces and (agents) eventually ... the final negotiation-buy took place in Chaparral," the agent said.
While 115 pounds of methamphetamine have been seized total this year in Do-a Ana County, Metro Narcotics said the amount of methamphetamine seized in this most recent investigation was uncommonly large.
"Generally, for this area, because of the close contact with the border, it's not really common to get large amounts," the agent said. "Everyone usually has small increments, because everybody, when they run out,
Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462
