Posted: 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, 2012

Federal agents bust drug trafficking ring

Operation stretched from Horizon, Tex., to Anthony, NM

By Ric Dupont
EL PASO, Texas —

Federal agents, with the help of local law enforcement agencies, arrested nine people on drug trafficking and money laundering charges.

The alleged drug trafficking ring was based out of a Pecan farm in Anthony, N.M., called Pettit Farms. Included in the federal indictment were the owners of the farm, Oscar L. Portillo and Sandra L. Portillo. Others indicted were Matthew Portillo 25; Oscar Portillo Jr., 29; Cesar Ramos, 32; Fernando A. Ramos, 40; Ruben Ortiz-Rivera, 46; and Natasha N. Coronado, 23. April Garcia, 35, a Horizon city code enforcement officer, is charged in a criminal complaint.

All charges stem from drug trafficking and money laundering.

Brenden Arenivar, who is not involved in the drug bust, lives on an isolated piece of property in the middle of Pettit Farms.

Thursday morning he was woken up to the sound of a nonlethal hand grenade and a knock at the door from federal agents. Arenivar said agents searched the entire farm property for about six hours.

He said it’s not the first time police have come to the farm.

"We have law enforcement here all the time serving for whatever reason,” Arenivar said. “My guess is they were not finding whatever they were looking for, but from all hours of the night we have law enforcement coming in here. As far as I know, it was domestic problems."

All nine suspects are being detained in Las Cruces, N.M., until their detention hearing on Tuesday.

If you have a story that you feel deserves media attention, contact Ric Dupont at ric.dupont@kfoxtv.com.

Federal agents bust drug trafficking ring | www.kfoxtv.com