Rio Arriba County and Ohkay Owingeh Agree to Deputize Tribal Officers

The agreement aims to combat the flow of drugs in northern New Mexico.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 4:03pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Rio Arriba County and the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo have announced an agreement to deputize tribal police officers, in an effort to strengthen interagency collaboration, enhance public safety, and improve coordinated law enforcement services between the two entities. The move comes as Rio Arriba County is in a state of emergency due to a 48% increase in opioid overdose deaths in the past year.

Why it matters

The agreement is a response to the growing drug trafficking problem in the region, particularly on Pueblo land which sits near two major highways that have seen significant drug seizures. By deputizing tribal officers, the two law enforcement agencies hope to better coordinate their efforts and tackle the opioid crisis impacting northern New Mexico.

The details

Under the new agreement, the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office will deputize officers from the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department. This will allow the tribal officers to assist in law enforcement operations across jurisdictional boundaries. Rio Arriba County Sheriff Lorenzo Aguilar stated that the county is in a state of emergency due to a 48% increase in opioid overdose deaths in the past year, underscoring the urgency behind the new partnership.

  • The agreement was announced on Monday, March 17, 2026.

The players

Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency for Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.

Ohkay Owingeh Police Department

The police department for the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, a Native American tribe in northern New Mexico.

Lorenzo Aguilar

The Rio Arriba County Sheriff.

Matthew Martinez

The First Lt. Governor of the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Drug trafficking is particularly prevalent on Pueblo land, which sits near two highways which he says has been the site of significant drug seizures in recent weeks.”

— Matthew Martinez, First Lt. Governor of the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo (Albuquerque Journal)

“Rio Arriba is in a state of emergency because of opioid overdoses. Drug overdose deaths increased 48% in the county in one year.”

— Lorenzo Aguilar, Rio Arriba County Sheriff (Albuquerque Journal)

What’s next

The agreement is expected to go into effect immediately, with the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office beginning the process of deputizing Ohkay Owingeh tribal officers.

The takeaway

This partnership between Rio Arriba County and the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo represents a coordinated effort to combat the growing drug trafficking problem in the region, which has had a devastating impact on the local community. By pooling resources and aligning law enforcement efforts, the two agencies hope to more effectively address the opioid crisis and improve public safety.