Five people have been arrested and are in federal custody amid an investigation into an alleged drug trafficking ring operating out of a prison in Mexico.
Federal law enforcement officials say Felix Anthony Salazar III, 34, a Las Cruces native, orchestrated the Southern New Mexico deals from his cell while incarcerated in Ciudad Juárez, according to a June 4 criminal complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in Las Cruces.
Salazar submitted to federal custody Oct. 11, after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s New Mexico Office. Four people charged with aided his operation are also in federal custody.
According to the release, an undercover agent contacted Salazar in early September of 2025. Salazar coordinated a purchase of methamphetamine in Anthony. Less than two weeks later, the undercover agent and a different carrier completed another alleged exchange in Sunland Park, with a subsequent third deal taking place in Las Cruces, according to court documents.
The evidence was later sent to the Southern New Mexico Crime Laboratory in Las Cruces, which found a total of 2,425 grams of pure methamphetamine across the three transactions, and 251 grams of fentanyl from the Las Cruces exchange.
Those charged are Salazar; Yadira Lizette Cano, 28, of El Paso, who is accused of driving a 16-year-old courier to the Anthony deal; Moses Andrew Gonzales, 36, and Martha Janeth Grijalva Fierro, 36, both of El Paso, who are accused of delivering the second set of drugs; and Suleima Eidali Miranda, 31, of Las Cruces, who is suspected of carrying out the Las Cruces transaction.
Salazar is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Cano is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and using a juvenile in a drug operation. Gonzales and Grijalva Fierro are both charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. Miranda is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of methamphetamine and distribution of fentanyl.
The Homeland Security Task Force of New Mexico conducted the investigation amid a broader push established by an executive order, according to the release.
The Las Cruces Police Department and the FBI declined to provide further comment Monday.
Julia Gentin is a reporter for The Las Cruces New Mexican, The Santa Fe New Mexican and Searchlight New Mexico through a partnership with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. She covers the Southern New Mexico region. Learn more about Report for America at reportforamerica.org.
