A sweeping multi-agency operation in Bernalillo County has resulted in the discovery of over 117,000 fentanyl pills and the arrest of 15 homicide suspects, marking one of the region’s largest drug and crime crackdowns this year. Officials believe Operation Route 66 has dismantled many criminal networks in Albuquerque and the surrounding areas.
The Operation: Targeting Violent and Repeat Offenders
Operation Route 66, which began in February 2024, aims to target violent offenders, probation violators, and repeat criminals in Bernalillo County. The New Mexico State Police, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, and a number of local and state law enforcement organizations collaborated on the operation.
Participating agencies were the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, the Albuquerque Police Department, and the New Mexico Corrections Department’s Probation and Parole Division.
According to the DA’s Office, the program has resulted in 1,587 arrests, including 425 probation violators and 15 people allegedly involved in homicide cases. Additionally, authorities cleared 1,397 outstanding warrants and recovered a large number of stolen vehicles and firearms…