A federal grand jury indicted Jose Magaña Garcia, a Mexican citizen illegally in the United States, for allegedly distributing large amounts of fentanyl and heroin in New Mexico, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Investigators said Magaña sold 2,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover officer on Aug. 13 in Albuquerque, delivering them through intermediaries.
Surveillance and Search
Federal agents tracked Magaña to a northeast Albuquerque apartment, where they allegedly observed him conducting drug deals and using erratic driving to avoid detection.
On Aug. 27, agents executed a search warrant at the apartment and seized:
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8 kilograms of fentanyl pills
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4 kilos of heroin
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Over an ounce of methamphetamine
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Packaging materials
Officials arrested Magaña at the scene.
Charges and Penalties
The grand jury charged Magaña with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
The DEA, the Special Investigations Bureau of the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the Laguna Pueblo Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Elena Stiteler will prosecute.
Recent Drug Cases in New Mexico
This marks the second major legal outcome in a New Mexico drug case in the past month. On Aug. 7, prosecutors secured a conviction against Alex Anthony Martinez, 38, accused of managing a fentanyl trafficking network allegedly led by Heriberto Salazar Amaya.
Authorities have linked Salazar to “historic” seizures, including 3 million fentanyl pills in Albuquerque and Phoenix earlier this year. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi described that bust as a “significant blow” to the Sinaloa cartel.
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