McKinley County, NM – Two men were arrested when New Mexico State Police located over 500 pounds of illegal substances while searching a commercial motor vehicle at the Gallup Port of Entry on Jan. 21
A New Mexico State Police officer conducted a safety inspection about 7:57 am on a 2012 Volvo Commercial Motor Vehicle at the Gallup Port of Entry. As the officer conducted a safety inspection on the CMV, the officer observed seventeen black duffel bags, three cardboard boxes, two plastic totes, and a trash bag within the CMV’s cab and trailer. The officer detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the trailer.
New Mexico State Police officers located 489.5 pounds of marijuana, 2.5 pounds of fentanyl, 23.5 pounds of cocaine, 28.5 pounds of THC edibles, and one pound of psychedelic mushrooms concealed inside the duffle bags, plastic totes, cardboard boxes, and trash bag. Two handguns, located inside the cab of the CMV, were also seized.
The driver, Brandon Ammon Johnson, 39, of Laplace, La., and passenger, Terrance Colin Hicks Jr., 46, of Houston, Texas, were both arrested without incident and booked into the McKinley Adult Detention Center in Gallup.
Brandon Ammon Johnson was charged with the following:
- Trafficking controlled substances-Cocaine (by distribution or sale of narcotic drug – 1st offense) 30-31-20(A)(2) & (B)(1), a second-degree felony
- Trafficking controlled substances-Fentanyl (by distribution or sale of narcotic drug – 1st offense) 30-31-20(A)(2) & (B)(1), a second-degree felony
- Distribution of Marijuana over 100 pounds (1st offense) 30-31-22(A)(1)(C), a third-degree felony
- Distribution of a controlled substance Schedule I-IV –Psychedelic mushroom, 1st offense, 30-31-22(A)(2)(a), a third-degree felony
Terrance Colin Hicks Jr. was charged with the following:
- Trafficking controlled substances-Cocaine (by distribution or sale of narcotic drug – 1st offense) 30-31-20(A)(2) & (B)(1), a second-degree felony
- Trafficking controlled substances-Fentanyl (by distribution or sale of narcotic drug – 1st offense) 30-31-20(A)(2) & (B)(1), a second-degree felony
- Distribution of Marijuana over 100 pounds (1st offense) 30-31-22(A)(1)(C), a third-degree felony
- Distribution of a controlled substance Schedule I-IV –Psychedelic mushroom, 1st offense, 30-31-22(A)(2)(a), a third-degree felony
- Possession of firearm or destructive device by a felon, 30-7-16, a fourth-degree felony