Lincoln County Sheriff Busts Illegal Cartel-Linked Marijuana Grow Operation Near Ruidoso

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office on Thursday raided an illegal marijuana cultivation operation on a remote property in the Sacramento Mountains east of Ruidoso, seizing more than 6,000 plants with an estimated street value of $18 million and arresting four suspects who investigators say have ties to a Mexican drug cartel.

The bust, the largest illegal cannabis grow operation uncovered in Lincoln County history, highlights what law enforcement officials say is a growing problem: criminal organizations exploiting New Mexico's recreational cannabis legalization to operate large-scale illegal grows that supply the black market in states where marijuana remains illegal.

The Raid

The raid, executed at approximately 6:00 a.m. Thursday, targeted a 40-acre property on a remote forest road approximately 12 miles east of Ruidoso — a Lincoln County community of approximately 7,500 known for its mountain resorts and horse racing track.

Sheriff's deputies, assisted by the New Mexico State Police and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), discovered 14 greenhouses containing approximately 6,200 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. Investigators also found a sophisticated irrigation system, drying rooms, packaging equipment, and approximately 340 pounds of processed marijuana ready for distribution.

"This was a major operation," said Lincoln County Sheriff Michael Casaus. "We're talking about 6,000 plants. That's not someone growing a few plants for personal use. This was a commercial-scale illegal grow operation producing millions of dollars worth of marijuana for the black market."

In addition to the plants and processed marijuana, officers seized $67,000 in cash, four firearms, and two vehicles believed to have been used for transportation.

The Investigation

The investigation began in March, when a concerned hunter reported seeing suspicious activity — including bright greenhouse lights and heavy vehicle traffic — at a property that was supposed to be unoccupied. Deputies conducted aerial surveillance using a drone and identified what appeared to be an extensive cannabis cultivation operation.

Through further investigation, including utility records and vehicle tracking, deputies identified four individuals believed to be operating the grow. According to court documents, the operation was supplied with genetics and expertise from sources in California's Emerald Triangle — a region known for large-scale cannabis cultivation — and the processed marijuana was being transported to Texas and Oklahoma, where recreational cannabis remains illegal.

The cartel connection was established through cell phone records and cooperation from a confidential informant, Sheriff Casaus said. "These aren't local folks growing plants," Casaus said. "This operation has connections to a Mexican cartel. They chose this location because it's remote, because New Mexico's regulations are lax, and because they could operate undetected."

The Suspects

Four individuals were arrested at the scene:

• Jorge Luis Mendoza, 34, of Las Cruces — charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and operating an illegal cannabis operation
• Hector Ramirez, 29, of El Paso, TX — charged with conspiracy and trafficking
• Miguel Angel Torres, 26, of Albuquerque — charged with possession with intent to distribute
• Danielle Schofield, 31, of Ruidoso — charged with conspiracy and maintaining a drug premises

All four were transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center. Mendoza and Ramirez face federal charges and will be transferred to federal custody.

Exploiting Legalization

New Mexico legalized recreational cannabis in 2021, with licensed dispensaries beginning sales in April 2022. The state's Cannabis Control Division (CCD) regulates licensed cannabis businesses, including cultivation, manufacturing, and retail.

But Sheriff Casaus said the legalization has created opportunities for illegal operators. "When you legalize cannabis, you also create a cover for illegal operations," Casaus said. "Someone sees greenhouses in a remote area and assumes it's a legal grow. It's only when you dig deeper that you find it's completely illegal — no license, no regulation, no oversight, and the product is going straight to the black market."

According to the CCD, there are currently 35 licensed cannabis cultivation facilities in New Mexico. But law enforcement officials estimate that for every licensed grow, there may be three to five illegal operations operating undetected.

"The legal market exists, but the black market is still thriving," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark Nichols. "Cartels and criminal organizations don't care about regulations or licensing. They care about money. And as long as there are states where marijuana is illegal — like Texas and Oklahoma — there will be a market for illegally grown product."

Impact on the Community

For residents of Ruidoso and the surrounding Sacramento Mountains, the bust was both alarming and reassuring.

"We've seen an increase in suspicious activity in the mountains over the past couple of years," said Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford. "People driving up forest roads at all hours, greenhouses that appear overnight on properties that were supposed to be vacant. This bust confirms what many of us suspected — that criminal organizations are operating in our community."

Crawford praised the sheriff's department and said the village would increase its support for law enforcement. "We need more resources to combat this," Crawford said. "The Sacramento Mountains are vast and remote, and we can't rely on the state to police it. This is a local problem that requires local solutions."

Longtime Ruidoso resident Patricia Trujillo, who lives near the raided property, said she had noticed suspicious activity for months. "There were trucks going up and down that road at all hours of the night," Trujillo said. "I called the sheriff's office three times. I'm glad they finally did something about it. This is a quiet community. We don't need cartel operations in our mountains."

What Happens Next

The four suspects are scheduled for preliminary hearings later this month. Mendoza and Ramirez face federal charges that carry mandatory minimum sentences of 5 to 40 years in prison.

Sheriff Casaus said the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected. He also urged residents to report suspicious activity, particularly in remote areas of the Sacramento Mountains.

"If you see something that doesn't look right — greenhouses in unexpected places, heavy traffic on remote roads, people who seem out of place — call us," Casaus said. "That's how this case started. A hunter saw something and said something. That tip led to the biggest bust in Lincoln County history."

The CCD said in a statement that it is working with law enforcement to identify and shut down illegal cannabis operations statewide. "We take illegal cannabis cultivation seriously," the statement said. "These operations undermine the legal market, evade taxes, and often involve criminal organizations. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to shut them down."