Tucumcari Drug Bust Nets Meth, Weapons & Grenade

Tuesday, January 23, multiple New Mexico law enforcement agencies converged on the Travelers Inn Hotel in Tucumcari following a tip of possible drug trafficking.

A welfare check to the hotel led to the arrest of 39-year-old Raul Villalobos who had been living in the hotel. Villalobos has an active arrest warrant. He was taken into custody while leaving his room.

In his hotel room, authorities found over 17 ounces of fentanyl and methamphetamine, along with two firearms and a grenade.

Villalobos was taken into custody without incident by the Quay County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Quay County Detention Center.

In addition to his active warrant, he was charged with trafficking a controlled substance in a school zone, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of an explosive or incendiary device. That device – the grenade – was taken to Albuquerque for further investigation.