Sierra County has experienced a dramatic increase in drug and human trafficking with much of the rise attributed to the area's interstate and its connection to major drug trafficking routes running from cartels in Mexico throughout the entire country.
The largely rural county has a population of over 11,000.
The name of its county seat – Truth or Consequences – reflects the situation local law enforcement officers finds themselves in.
Sierra County Sheriff Joshua Baker, who took office on Jan. 1, 2023, described the county's location and how that makes it a prime target for drug traffickers and human traffickers exploiting the highway system.
“We are less than 100 nautical miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, directly north of El Paso, Texas, on Interstate 25,” Baker told Federal Newswire. “The increase in border problems has led to a significant rise in fentanyl coming into our communities and an alarming uptick in human trafficking. Interstate 25, which connects from El Paso to Colorado and up to Albuquerque, is a major conduit for these issues.”
Those responsible for the trafficking of drugs and humans are directly related to cartels, Baker said.
“I believe it's all cartel influence,” he said. “The fentanyl is coming over to Mexico through China. That's pretty well documented. And it's coming north from the cartels into the United States. So I think it all ties back to the cartel at some level.”
Just this week, China announced it is set to impose new restrictions on chemicals used to produce fentanyl.
Despite the Chinese government’s recent vow to restrict fentanyl precursors, Baker is hesitant to believe it.
“I'll believe it when I see it,” Baker said.
Starting Sept. 1, the Chinese government has said it will enforce stricter oversight on the production and export of three key fentanyl precursors.
“I find it very interesting that, for a government that has such strict control over everything else that they couldn't have had control over the fentanyl and the Carfentanil from the very beginning,” Baker said.
Over his 22-year career, Baker has noted the shift by drug smugglers to more dangerous substances.
“When I started in 2002, marijuana and meth were the predominant drugs,” he said. “Over the years, heroin and prescription medications became major issues, but now fentanyl has taken over the drug industry. The prices for fentanyl have dropped significantly, making it easier for individuals to become dealers.”
Fentanyl is much deadlier than most other illicit drugs.
As such, Baker highlighted the struggle to combat the surge in overdoses and the challenges of dealing with fentanyl’s increasing prevalence.
Sierra County has long been facing a severe drug and opioid crisis.
The county’s rate of drug overdose deaths between the years 2013 and 2017 was 29.5 per 100,000 residents, significantly higher than both the national average of 13.3 and the state average of 24.6.
That was before fentanyl showed up on the scene.
From 2017-2020, state data shows overdose deaths skyrocketed to 69.2 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Meanwhile, the nationwide rate of drug overdose deaths was 32.6 per 100,000 residents as of 2022.
Given the public safety crisis, Baker voiced concerns about the broader impacts of immigration and drug trafficking.
He emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform and stricter controls at the border to prevent criminal exploitation.
“The federal government needs to implement comprehensive immigration reform and put more pressure on Mexico to address the cartels,” he said. “Leaving the border open invites not only good people but also those exploiting the system for criminal activities.”
Baker noted that while Sierra County works with the New Mexico Sheriffs' Association to address these issues, they are often in a reactive position rather than proactive.
“Our efforts are mainly reactive. We get border intelligence and have discussions with Border Patrol, but we're often responding to problems rather than preventing them,” he said.
Baker concluded by acknowledging the strain on local resources and infrastructure.
“With limited medical care and educational resources in New Mexico, the influx of people exacerbates existing challenges,” he said. “Adding millions of people into an already struggling system will have long-term effects, making it even harder to address these critical issues effectively.”
