Investigation uncovers illegal cannabis operation in Torrance County
SANTA FE – The Regulation and Licensing Department’s Enforcement Bureau and the New Mexico Organized Crime Commission executed a search warrant at a large-scale illegal cannabis farm in Torrance County on Thursday, resulting in the seizure and destruction of an estimated 6,300 illegal cannabis plants, weighing 21,000 pounds.
The Enforcement Bureau received information about a possible illegal cannabis grow at 102 Howell Road in Estancia. Throughout the two-month investigation, special agents with the Bureau observed ongoing cannabis activity at the location. The Seventh Judicial District Court issued a search warrant and order to obtain and seize evidence, which was completed Thursday without incident.
During the search, agents observed 21 “hoop houses” or greenhouses, each filled with an estimated 300 fully mature cannabis plants. Agents carried out evidence collection duties and processed the plants for further destruction. A New Mexico State Police hazmat technician assisted in identifying potentially hazardous materials at the site.
“This investigation should serve as a warning to individuals entering New Mexico with plans to establish illegal cannabis farms,” said RLD Enforcement Bureau Chief Vince Mares. “We will continue to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation operations throughout New Mexico and will not tolerate unlicensed facilities that disregard the land, resources, or consumer safety.”
The case remains ongoing. The RLD Enforcement Bureau is working with prosecutors in the New Mexico Organized Crime Commission to pursue criminal charges.
“The Organized Crime Commission stands ready and prepared to assist any law enforcement agency in New Mexico with detecting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations in our state. Operations like this help disrupt and deter organized criminal activity trying to take root in New Mexico,” Organized Crime Commission Chairman Sam Bregman said. “Organized crime requires an organized, coordinated response from the state and I am proud of the work the OCC, RLD Enforcement Bureau, and NMSP did to make that happen.”
In addition to the illicit cannabis plants, the site housed multiple different types of industrial-sized equipment ranging from generators to water pumps and storage tanks, signifying a sophisticated operation and clear intent to engage in sustained illegal activity.
The RLD Enforcement Bureau was established under the Regulation and Licensing Department Act pursuant to House Bill 10 (2025). The Bureau, comprised of certified peace officers, is tasked with investigating criminal violations of the Cannabis Regulation Act and is actively investigating multiple illegal cannabis farms throughout New Mexico.
Anyone with information about potential criminal violations of New Mexico’s cannabis laws are encouraged to report it to the RLD Enforcement Bureau. To file a complaint, or learn about the offenses the Bureau can investigate, visit: rld.nm.gov/enforcement-bureau.
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About NMRLD:
The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department regulates more than 400,000 individuals and businesses in 35 industries, professions, and trades across the state. Its goal is to assure that New Mexicans receive quality services from qualified individuals and businesses while also ensuring a fair and prompt administrative process. To learn more, visit rld.nm.gov.
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