Woman accused of trying to smuggle drugs into jail

Freedom New Mexico

A 19-year-old woman was arrested Monday after investigators said she tried to smuggle drugs into the jail.

Marina Lopez is being held on $105,000 bond on charges of trafficking methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, attempting to furnish drugs to a prisoner and child abuse.

Sunday, investigators with the Curry County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation and intercepted telephone calls from the jail and discovered inmate Michael Padilla had asked Lopez to deliver narcotics to a detention officer for him, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

Police said Lopez was arrested when she met a sheriff’s investigator posing as a detention officer in a Clovis business parking lot to deliver a package containing approximately half a gram of meth, seven grams of marijuana, tobacco and rolling papers, the release said.

Lopez was charged with child abuse because she arrived at the delivery location with two children, ages 2 and 3, the release said.

According to the release, the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are anticipated.