Bernalillo County, N.M. – Angel Ramirez, 45, a former paralegal with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office and a recent employee of the New Mexico Department of Justice, was taken into federal custody after a DEA search of her home on Oct. 29 uncovered a substantial seizure of fentanyl powder, heroin, cash and firearms.
Law‑enforcement officials describe the seizure as historic
“The fact that we are announcing the largest fentanyl powder seizure in state history tells us just how serious the drug trafficking problem is in New Mexico,” said Ryan Ellison, First Assistant United States Attorney. The operation, described by investigators as the biggest fentanyl powder bust ever recorded in the state, also yielded multiple semi‑automatic rifles and a large sum of cash.
Family and neighbors react with shock
Ramirez’s father, who lives next door, defended his daughter when approached by reporters. “No, she’s never dealt drugs, and she was actually hateful toward fentanyl because where she worked, she saw a lot of the problems with it,” said George Ramirez.
Long‑time resident Ruth Pena, who has lived in the neighborhood for four decades, expressed disbelief. “Right across the street from my house,” she said, adding that the discovery was “the largest” she had ever heard of in the area.
Neighbor Louisa Gilani, who has shared a home with Pena for two years, echoed the sentiment. “Right across the street… wow, the largest… wow,” she said, recalling a heavy law‑enforcement presence at the house the week prior but not knowing the reason.
Investigators allege abuse of government position
Federal investigators allege Ramirez used her government employment, clean criminal record and access to the justice system to create an appearance of legitimacy while operating a distribution hub for narcotics and firearms from her residence. The DEA’s affidavit states that the seized items were packaged for further distribution and that the firearms were stored in a manner consistent with a trafficking operation.
Department of Justice response
Following the arrest, the New Mexico Department of Justice terminated Ramirez’s employment. She remains in federal custody on several felony drug charges and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Community concerns
Neighbors expressed concern about how the alleged operation could have functioned in a densely populated residential area. “My concern is that if it was, if that was going on, then how were they transporting and taking it out and getting it in and out?” Gilani asked.
The case underscores ongoing challenges for law‑enforcement agencies combating the opioid crisis in New Mexico, a state that has seen a surge in fentanyl‑related overdoses in recent years. State officials continue to prioritize aggressive interdiction efforts and community outreach to address the epidemic.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
