Mayor and police chief in New Mexico arrested on drug charges

ATF officials raided the village of Columbus, arresting several officials from the area on unspecified drug charges

Published March 10, 2011 6:32PM (EST)

Village of Columbus, New Mexico as seen from Pancho Villa State Park
Village of Columbus, New Mexico as seen from Pancho Villa State Park

The mayor and police chief of the southern New Mexico village of Columbus and a village council member have been arrested in a raid by federal agents.

Luna County sheriff's Capt. Arturo Baeza tells Deming radio station KOTS the officials are being held on drug and weapons charges. No details of the charges have been released.

Albuquerque television station KRQE reports 11 people were arrested Thursday in the community 70 miles west of El Paso, Texas. They include Mayor Eddie Espinoza, Police Chief Angelo Vega and council member Blas Gutierrez.

KRQE reports the raid included agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

An ATF official referred The Associated Press to the U.S. attorney's office in Albuquerque, which had no immediate comment.


By Associated Press

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Crime Drugs