THIRTY-FOUR34 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INDICTED ON FEDERAL DRUG CHARGES FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION INTO METH TRAFFICKING ON THE MESCALERO APACHE RESERVATION. CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED IN BOTH U-S DISTRICT COURT IN ALBUQUERQUE AND THE MESCALERO APACHE TRIBAL COURT.
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY THE INVESTIGATION BEGAN IN MAY OF LAST YEAR IN RESPONSE TO AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME ON THE RESERVATION. U-S ATTORNEY DAMON MARTINEZ SAYS METH ACCOUNTS FOR UP TO 40-PERCENT OF VIOLENT CRIMES IN INDIAN COUNTRY.
THE ALLEGED LEADER OF THE DRUG RING, LORENZO SAENZ, WAS ARRESTED LAST WEEK.
