ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – Federal prosecutors say a major drug trafficking network operating out of Hobbs has been dismantled following a series of arrests and coordinated investigations across New Mexico and Texas. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced charges against multiple people accused of supplying and distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Lea County.
According to court documents, investigators identified 61‑year‑old Arturo Chihuahua‑Martinez — a Mexican national previously deported from the United States — as the alleged source of supply for the operation. Prosecutors say he transported multi‑pound quantities of methamphetamine from California into New Mexico. In February 2025, a Lea County Sheriff’s deputy stopped Chihuahua‑Martinez on Highway 380 and discovered nearly 20 pounds of pure methamphetamine hidden inside a cooler and backpack in his truck.
Officials say Hobbs‑based distributor Natasha Ruiz played a central role in moving the drugs across the region. She is accused of coordinating meth and fentanyl distribution using a network of trusted associates who handled deliveries and street‑level sales, insulating her from direct contact with buyers. Court records detail several seizures tied to Ruiz, including more than 400 grams of methamphetamine and over 30 grams of fentanyl recovered during a March 2025 traffic stop in Hobbs.
Prosecutors say the operation extended beyond Hobbs into neighboring communities in New Mexico and Texas. In one case, Ruiz allegedly directed an associate to sell fentanyl to an undercover agent in September 2025, resulting in a controlled buy of more than 5 grams. Investigators also say Ruiz used additional associates to transport meth across the state line into Seminole, Texas, where officers later seized more than 150 grams of methamphetamine during coordinated stops.
Federal investigators credited undercover operations, surveillance, and multi‑agency cooperation for bringing down the trafficking ring. Charges include conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, along with additional counts tied to trafficking activity and weapons possession.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the investigation remains ongoing as prosecutions move forward.
