ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Two men who coordinated fentanyl trafficking from Phoenix received federal prison sentences for supplying New Mexico customers and laundering proceeds to Mexico, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced Thursday.
The department said Irving Alvarez-Rosales, 48, received 11½ years, and Julio Alberto Zamora-Ramirez, 33, received nine years,
Additionally, according to court documents, three other defendants also received prison sentences for their roles in the organization.
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According to the department, the operation connected Phoenix suppliers with distributors in Valencia County, New Mexico, from at least July 2022 through June 2023.
The organization obtained bulk narcotics from Arizona sources, including fentanyl pills imported from Culiacán, Mexico, the department detailed.
The department said Alvarez-Rosales and Zamora-Ramirez received shipments containing hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills in Phoenix and sold them to New Mexico customers.
Authorities intercepted approximately 100,000 pills in November 2022 and another 50,000 in May 2023, the department said.
Both men transferred drug proceeds from Arizona to Mexico through money service businesses, using false identification information to conceal the funds, the department explained.
The department said Rodrigo Rojas, 49, received nearly six years after pleading guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
During two trafficking trips, the department said vehicles carrying Rojas contained approximately 18.6 kilograms of fentanyl pills and 28 kilograms of methamphetamine.
According to the department, Efren Torres-Ruiz, 34, received nearly four years after pleading guilty to a methamphetamine conspiracy.
He admitted traveling to Arizona to obtain drugs for resale in New Mexico, the department said.
The department added that Roberto Zavala-Roman, 32, received nearly three years after pleading guilty to conspiracy. He arranged the sale and mailing of approximately 500 fentanyl pills.
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