NEW MEXICO. MORE THAN 400G OF FENTANYL FOUND INSIDE OF A DUFFEL BAG AND TWO SPARE TIRES DURING A TRAFFIC STOP. FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS CHARGING FORMER NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE OFFICER CARLOS PEREZ ON DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES. THE 56 YEAR OLD, TRAVELING WITH THE 31 YEAR OLD WOMAN BY HIS SIDE WHEN STOPPED BY OFFICERS IN HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS LAST MONTH. WHEN ASKED IF ANYTHING ILLEGAL WAS INSIDE OF THE CAR. PEREZ LIED TO INVESTIGATORS. THEIR K-9 ALERTING THEM TO THE ODOR OF DRUGS. SHORTLY AFTER, PEREA EVENTUALLY ADMITTED TO OFFICERS HE KNEW HIS ACTIVITIES OF TRANSPORTING DRUGS WAS ILLEGAL. HE WENT ON TO SAY, QUOTE, HIS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF POLICE WORK AIDED HIM IN HIS ABILITY TO TRANSPORT DRUGS SUCCESSFULLY IN UNDETECTED. PEREA TELLING OFFICERS HE TRANSPORTED DRUGS DURING MULTIPLE TRIPS TO CALIFORNIA, PHOENIX, ARIZONA AND ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO. COURT DOCUMENTS ALLEGE PEREA ALSO INDICATED HE DID NOT TELL HIS EMPLOYER, A DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION, WHO HE BELIEVED TO
Retired New Mexico State Police officer arrested on drug trafficking charges
Perea indicated, “His previous experience, skills and knowledge of police work aided in his ability to transport drugs successfully and undetected.”
Retired New Mexico State Police Lt. Carlos Antonio Perea, 56, has been charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. According to federal court documents filed with the United States District Court on Aug. 6, 2025, several packages of fentanyl were found inside a duffel bag and two spare tires in Perea’s vehicle during a traffic stop in August 2025. View federal court documents here.A 31-year-old woman, identified as Catherine Anne Schmidt, was traveling alongside Perea on Interstate 40 prior to his arrest. According to court documents, officers observed a white Sedan “swerve and cross the white fog line on the right side of the roadway,” prompting a traffic stop, as the Sedan began to travel toward the 81-mile marker off-ramp. During the traffic stop, officers determined Schmidt and Perea provided conflicting stories of their whereabouts, which provided reason for investigators to utilize their NMSP K-9 for a “free air sniff” of Perea’s vehicle. The K-9 alerted to the odor of drugs shortly after. Investigators, including Homeland Security Investigations, conducted a search of the vehicle and located:Black Trash Bag containing a cardboard box”Several large packages” of small blue M30 pills were found inside of the boxDuffel bag was also found containing “several large packages” of suspected fentanyl pills. Two spare tires were also located in the trunk of the vehicle with loads of drugsAccording to court documents, Perea and Schmidt were placed in handcuffs, detained and seated in the rear seat of marked patrol cars. According to investigators, Schmidt and Perea also tested positive for fentanyl.According to court documents, Perea indicated that his “previous experience, skills and knowledge of police work aided him in his ability to transport drugs successfully and undetected.” Perea also indicated that he did not inform his employer, a drug trafficking organization, whom he believes to be cartel-related, that he was a former police officer. Upon his arrest, Perea eventually admitted to investigators that he was aware of his transport of drugs and knew it was illegal during his “multiple trips” to California, Phoenix, Arizona, and Roswell, New Mexico. According to court documents, Perea’s arraignment is on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. According to NMSP, Perea retired in 2019. Stay updated on the latest news updates with the KOAT app. Download here.
Retired New Mexico State Police Lt. Carlos Antonio Perea, 56, has been charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. According to federal court documents filed with the United States District Court on Aug. 6, 2025, several packages of fentanyl were found inside a duffel bag and two spare tires in Perea’s vehicle during a traffic stop in August 2025.
View federal court documents here.
A 31-year-old woman, identified as Catherine Anne Schmidt, was traveling alongside Perea on Interstate 40 prior to his arrest. According to court documents, officers observed a white Sedan “swerve and cross the white fog line on the right side of the roadway,” prompting a traffic stop, as the Sedan began to travel toward the 81-mile marker off-ramp.
During the traffic stop, officers determined Schmidt and Perea provided conflicting stories of their whereabouts, which provided reason for investigators to utilize their NMSP K-9 for a “free air sniff” of Perea’s vehicle. The K-9 alerted to the odor of drugs shortly after.
Investigators, including Homeland Security Investigations, conducted a search of the vehicle and located:
- Black Trash Bag containing a cardboard box
- “Several large packages” of small blue M30 pills were found inside of the box
- Duffel bag was also found containing “several large packages” of suspected fentanyl pills.
- Two spare tires were also located in the trunk of the vehicle with loads of drugs
- According to court documents, Perea and Schmidt were placed in handcuffs, detained and seated in the rear seat of marked patrol cars. According to investigators, Schmidt and Perea also tested positive for fentanyl.
According to court documents, Perea indicated that his “previous experience, skills and knowledge of police work aided him in his ability to transport drugs successfully and undetected.” Perea also indicated that he did not inform his employer, a drug trafficking organization, whom he believes to be cartel-related, that he was a former police officer.
Upon his arrest, Perea eventually admitted to investigators that he was aware of his transport of drugs and knew it was illegal during his “multiple trips” to California, Phoenix, Arizona, and Roswell, New Mexico. According to court documents, Perea’s arraignment is on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. According to NMSP, Perea retired in 2019.
Stay updated on the latest news updates with the KOAT app. Download here.
