A Carlsbad woman was arrested by Pecos Valley Drug Task Force (PVDTF) Agents who alleged she hid methamphetamine in her shoe.
Tara Ward, 36, was being taken to the Carlsbad Medical Center (CMC) for an X-ray after agents were told by confidential informant that she concealed narcotics inside her body, read a probable cause statement filed in Eddy County Magistrate Court.
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During her transfer to the hospital, agents reported they observed methamphetamine fall from her sock and sandal, and that Ward possibly tried to discard it before the agents noticed.
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“As Ward stepped backward (from the police unit) methamphetamine began to fall out of her left sandal. Ward was advised to remove both sandals,” cited the probable cause statement.
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PVDT Cmdr. Lenin Leos said agents recovered around 1 ounce of methamphetamine.
She was booked into the Eddy County Detention Center on April 15 and charged with possession with intent to traffic methamphetamine, tampering with evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia, read the jail’s website.
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She is scheduled to appear at a preliminary examination before Eddy County Magistrate Judge Kelly Calicoat on April 28, per the jail’s website and online court records.
Ward’s arrest stemmed from an investigation of drug trafficking activity at a building at 1410 North Canal Street in Carlsbad, read a news release from PVDTF. Several other arrests were made.
On April 12, agents arrested Eric Back, 34, at the building for a parole violation. During an investigation agents seized methamphetamines and several firearms from his vehicle, according to the press release.
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Two days later, agents were watching the building and reportedly saw Edward Melville, 55, moving items in and out of a vehicle, per the press release. He allegedly fled agents during an attempted arrest on an active warrant failure to appear. Melville was ultimately arrested.
In the release, Eddy County Sheriff Mark Cage said that the investigation led to several search warrants being executed at various locations around Eddy County and over eight ounces of methamphetamine was seized along with several firearms.
Additional drug and weapons charges against those involved will be filed at a later date, the release cited.
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Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
