Valencia County woman arrested for drug trafficking

TOMÉ — As part of a joint law enforcement narcotics investigation, the Pueblo of Isleta Police Department narcotics detectives arrested a Valencia County woman for drug trafficking various drugs at a residence near Valencia High School.

At about 6 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, IPD narcotics detectives, along with the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office Regional SWAT Team, conducted a joint law enforcement narcotics search warrant. The regional team secured the residence while IPD investigators executed a search warrant at a residence on the 80 block of Bonita Vista Boulevard.

A six-month long narcotics investigation revealed probable cause that 55-year-old Rosie Marie Padilla was selling multiple types of illegal drugs out of her house to include Fentanyl and methamphetamine.

At the conclusion of the search warrant, detectives seized the following:

• 3,126 blue round pills, stamped with the pill mark of “M-30,” consistent with Fentanyl;

• 4 pounds of a clear crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine;

• 206.99 grams of a white-powdered substance consistent with cocaine;

• 165 individually-wrapped strips of Suboxone;

• 1,784 white pills, stamped with the pill mark “MK65,” consistent with Oxycodone;

• Three safes containing large amounts of U.S. currency and a handgun.

• Various materials and packaging consistent with illegal drug sales

Padilla was taken into custody without incident, and booked in the Valencia County Detention Center on four counts of trafficking a controlled substance and one count of distribution of a controlled substance.

According to court records, Magistrate Miles Tafoya ordered Padilla be held on a no bond hold.

“The Pueblo of Isleta Police Department is committed to our partnership with our Valencia County wide law enforcement partners to proactively investigate, apprehend and advocate for the prosecution of those individuals trafficking illegal drugs in our communities,” says Isleta Police Chief Victor Rodriguez.

“The trafficking of illegal drugs will not be tolerated by this office. The proliferation of illegal narcotics sales has significantly contributed to increased property crime and violence in our neighborhoods,” said Valencia County Sheriff Denise Vigil. “The men and women of the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office, alongside our dedicated law enforcement partners, remain steadfast in our mission to remove these dangerous substances from our community. It is through strong interagency collaboration that operations like this are successful. I commend Chief Rodriguez and his investigative team for their outstanding work in this effort.”