A Hobbs man has been arrested following an investigation by Lea County Drug Task Force agents into alleged trafficking of Fentanyl pills from Albuquerque to Hobbs.
Task force agents acted on information provided by a confidential informant on Feb. 7, alleging that 53-year-old Hobbs resident Poetry Royal was transporting thousands of Fentanyl pills from Albuquerque to Hobbs using rental vehicles. The informant claimed that Royal was supplying several individuals in the area and had made multiple trips to Albuquerque to purchase the pills.
On Feb. 10, task force agents, with assistance from the Lea County Sheriff’s Office, located Royal driving a black Toyota Rav4 on Highway 18 Mile Marker 67 just south of Lovington. Royal was accompanied by two passengers.
Following a traffic stop, deputies detained the vehicle for a narcotics K9 sniff, which indicated the presence of narcotics. Subsequently, the vehicle was secured pending a search warrant.
Attempts to interview the vehicle occupants were unsuccessful, and Royal was informed that the vehicle would be towed pending the search warrant. The occupants were released with courtesy rides.
On Feb. 12, a search warrant was issued, and a search of the black Toyota Rav4 revealed a purple Crown Royal bag containing 10 clear baggies, each containing blue pills suspected to be Fentanyl, with an approximate weight of 540 grams. The estimated value of the pills was $55,000.
An arrest warrant was issued for Royal, and on April 12, task force agents executed a residential search of his residence. During the search, four firearms (one identified as stolen), approximately 700 additional blue pills suspected to be Fentanyl, over a pound of a white, powdery substance testing positive for cocaine, and 10 grams of solid, rock-like pieces testing positive for cocaine were seized. The estimated value of the seized narcotics was $24,000.
Royal faces charges of trafficking a controlled substance with intent to distribute (second offense), a first-degree felony.
