The White House honored a New Mexico State Police officer for a traffic stop in 2023
New Mexico State – Multiple law enforcement personnel are being honored for their efforts to combat the nation’s drug epidemic, with a New Mexico officer among the recognized individuals.
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released a list of officials and agencies acknowledged for their work against criminal networks and drug trafficking. These honorees were celebrated at the United States Interdiction Coordinator Awards.
“From the very beginning, President Biden has taken historic action and made significant investments to support law enforcement and prevent drug-related crime as part of his comprehensive approach to addressing the overdose epidemic,” said ONDCP Director Dr. Rahul Gupta. “I’m proud to honor the heroic efforts of these law enforcement leaders who are tirelessly working around the clock to prevent deadly drugs from reaching our communities and harming vulnerable Americans. The Biden-Harris Administration appreciates their steadfast partnership and will continue to support life-saving law enforcement efforts to reduce overdoses, deprive drug traffickers of their profits, and keep Americans safe.”
Among the honorees was New Mexico State Police Officer Julian Armijo, recognized for “highway interdictions” following an incident in September 2023. During a traffic stop, Armijo noticed “indicators of criminal activity,” leading to a probable cause search that uncovered 10.5 kilograms of fentanyl pills. The driver was subsequently charged with possession. The investigation also revealed information about the murder of Froylan Villegas, an 11-year-old boy who was shot and killed outside Isotopes Park while in a vehicle with his cousin, Tatiana Villegas, who was also injured.
Other recognized categories include special recognition, maritime interdiction, land interdiction, international investigations, illicit finance, emerging threats, domestic investigations, and cyber investigations.
Officials from the Biden-Harris Administration emphasized their commitment to addressing the overdose epidemic through law enforcement funding. To learn more about the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, click here.
Read more about how the White House is funding law enforcement to tackle these issues by clicking here.
