'Not in Vain' Sees Big Jump in Fentanyl Seizures

Three police vehicles parked at Circle K with their lights on.

‘Operation Not in Vain 2025 is rolling into its fourth month and now has accounted for 94 felony arrests, 98 misdemeanor arrests and the seizure of more than 2,300 fentanyl pills between April and June.

The months-long crime reduction operation has also accounted for more than 800 traffic stops and 200 citations.

Operation Not in Vain 2025, which began in late April, is in memory of fallen Las Cruces Police Department Officer Jonah Hernandez who was killed in the line of duty Feb. 11, 2024.

Through June, law enforcement personnel working the operation have: made 844 traffic stops resulting in 235 citations; recovered nine stolen firearms; located 11 stolen vehicles; seized narcotics in 12 separate searches; issued 28 trespass warnings; and executed 15 search or arrest warrants.

The operation so far has recorded 503 consensual contacts with citizens, 114 contacts with businesses and it has generated 111 incident reports.

Besides the 2,355 fentanyl pills seized, law enforcement working the project have recovered 53 grams of powder or liquid fentanyl. Through May, the operation had only seized 55 fentanyl pills and 32 grams of powdered fentanyl.

Law enforcement personnel also seized 38 grams of heroin and 4.5 grams of cocaine in the first three months.

The operation is utilizing law enforcement personnel and resources from the Las Cruces Police Department, New Mexico State Police, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State University Police, Metro Narcotics, the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office along with several federal agencies.

The Not in Vain results are in addition to the arrests, citations and enforcement efforts made by law enforcement personnel during regular shifts with their respective agencies and further amplify the impact of the operation.

Operation Not in Vain 2025 began April 28 and is anticipated to run through August 2025. This is the second consecutive year law enforcement partners have participated in Operation Not in Vain. The Las Cruces Police Department is the lead agency in the operation.