DRUG STING NABS 30, HALF-POUND OF COCAINE

State Police Lauds 7-Month Covert Sting Operation

A seven-month undercover effort by state police has netted 30 arrests
and about a half-pound of cocaine in Taos.

Members of the state police narcotics unit and officers from Santa
Fe, Los Alamos, R'o Arriba and Taos counties began last November to
"target street and mid-level dealers," according Lt. Jimmy Glascock
of the New Mexico State Police. "We wanted to hit open-air drug
dealing," Glascock said, referring to sales of cocaine, crack cocaine
and other drugs to personal users. "We try to work our way up the
organizational chain. The operation was productive."

In addition to 228 grams of cocaine, officers recovered 74 grams of
crack cocaine, 1,390 grams of marijuana and 1.2 grams of heroine,
Glascock said. In addition, officers confiscated four stolen
fire-arms and an undetermined amount of jewelry, he said.

Powder-form cocaine and crack cocaine rocks were the focus of the
investigation, which ended May 1, Glascock said.

"That appears to be the drug of choice in Taos," he said. "There are
multiple sources of supply, with some locals who have connections in
Rio Arriba, Albuquerque and Mexico."

Most of the 30 people arrested have been charged with distribution or
trafficking, Glascock said, although some people who had "personal
use" amounts were also nabbed. Five residences were searched during
the operation by tactical teams from the state police, he said, and
17 arrest warrants were issued.

"We got a significant number of street and mid-level dealers,"
Glascock said. "We do hope that, at a minimum, it will slow down the
open-air dealing."