Staff Reports
Three people were charged with trafficking a controlled substance after police officers witnessed them perform multiple drug deals.
Narcotics agents with the Gallup Police Department and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Department Task Force were conducting surveillance near Aztec Laundry, located at 1105 E. Hwy. 66 March 12 due to multiple people reportedly smoking narcotics in the area.
Gallup Police Department Narcotics Agent Timothy Hughte allegedly noticed two people approach a silver car, and then a possible narcotics hand off occurred.
After the hand off, the Chevrolet Equinox with California plates left the parking lot and headed east on Highway 66. Officers followed the vehicle, which traveled to the Sonic at 2404 E. Hwy. 66 and the
Dollar General located at 2408 E. Hwy. 66.
A man later identified as Isaac Garcia seemed to meet multiple people at each stop. He ultimately looped back to Aztec Laundry, where the officers reportedly saw two more people approach the vehicle.
With their training and prior knowledge, the officers believed that the Equinox was involved in multiple drug deals. They were finally able to pull the vehicle over at Heritage Plaza.
When officers approached the vehicle, they noticed that Garcia had multiple items in his lap, including a scanner radio, cell phones, lighters, and some straws. There was also a large knife reportedly in the center console, and another knife taped to the underside of the vehicle’s steering wheel.
The two other occupants of the car were identified as Julianita Martinez and Daviana Aguirre. They were also asked to exit the car.
During the search of the vehicle, officers found a Crown Royal bag on one of the floorboards. The bag contained small plastic baggies, which are often used to store drugs. Used baggies were also found inside the vehicle.
A pink backpack was allegedly found in the backseat of the vehicle, and inside the bag were more bags that contained methamphetamine. Officers also reportedly found four fentanyl pills inside the vehicle.
Officers ultimately decided that all three of the suspects would be arrested for conspiracy to commit a crime.
In total, the three suspects had 27.5 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle with them, along with the four fentanyl pills.
At press time no court date had been scheduled for Garcia. Aguire and Martinez’s preliminary hearings were scheduled for April 2.
