California man faces federal drug trafficking charge in NM for methamphetamine seizure

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A U.S. magistrate judge found probable cause Monday to support a criminal complaint charging a California man with methamphetamine trafficking.

Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case.

Edwin Josue Torres, 24, of Sherman Oaks, California, was ordered detained pending trial. He was arrested Sept. 29, and was charged in a criminal complaint with methamphetamine trafficking after the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) seized about 38.25 lbs. of methamphetamine from him following a routine traffic stop.

The methamphetamine was concealed inside nine individual packages inside two bags in the trunk of Torres’ vehicle.  NMSP notified HSI special agents about the seizure, and HSI referred the matter for federal prosecution.

If convicted of the offense against him, Torres faces a statutory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.

The charges against Torres are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano Torrez, District of New Mexico, is prosecuting this case.