New Mexico State Police Officer Honored in Washington, D.C., after receiving the 2023 United States Interdiction Coordinator Award for Highway Interdictions

Washington, DC—On July 19, 2024, New Mexico State Police K9 Officer Julian Armijo and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Group were presented with the 2023 United States Interdiction Coordinator (USIC) Award for Highway Interdictions. The USIC awards are given to recipients from law enforcement agencies across the country in several categories for their exemplary contributions to the counterdrug mission to reduce the supply of illicit substances in our communities.

On September 13, 2023, at around 03:55 a.m., Officer Armijo, who is also an HSI HIDTA Task Force Officer, initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation. Officer Armijo learned the female driver and male passenger were traveling from Phoenix, AZ to Albuquerque, NM. Through investigation, Officer Armijo located 10,500 grams (10.5 Kilos) of fentanyl tablets in the vehicle.

Upon making the discovery, HSI Special Agents responded to assist with the investigation. Subsequent investigation implicated the male passenger, Nathen Garley, in a shooting that resulted in the murder of an 11-year-old child, and critically injured his cousin outside of Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, NM.

"I am extremely proud of the work my officers do across this great state every day. That work is exemplified by Officer Julian Armijo and what it means to be a New Mexico State Police Officer," said Troy Weisler, Chief of the New Mexico State Police. "Not only did Officer Armijo stop fentanyl from being brought to our state and poisoning our communities, but thanks to our partnership with HSI we also took a wanted murderer off our streets."

We would like to congratulate Officer Armijo and the HSI ABQ HIDTA initiative on their outstanding work, which led to their receiving this award, and for making New Mexico a safer place for its citizens.