Years-long FBI investigation into former Navajo Nation presidential candidate
NAVAJO NATION (KRQE) – A massive drug-running operation, running afoul of state, federal, and tribal law. Now the man the feds say is responsible for a 'brazen criminal enterprise' is behind bars after the latest raid targeting illegal pot-growing operations in New Mexico, and the investigation dates years back.
A man who once ran for president of the Navajo Nation is now in federal custody after an investigation spanning more than five years, and dozens of marijuana farms across New Mexico. The claims are wide-ranging, from drug trafficking to diverting waterways and even employing slave labor to maximize profits.
KRQE is now learning of raids of two farms near Estancia last week, which were part of the latest investigation into Dineh Benally. 'Something we've been working on for several months from the FBI perspective with our partners,' says Raul Bujanda, FBI special agent in charge.
New Mexico cannabis industry may soon experience major shift in policy enforcement
According to federal court documents, the FBI started investigating Benally and his father Donald Benally in 2019 for growing operations in the Shiprock area. At the time, New Mexico's cannabis laws were more restrictive than they are today.
Recreational use was not yet legal but the feds say Benally claimed it was his sovereign right to grow cannabis – a religious sacrament, he said, for native people. The Navajo Nation disagreed and attempted to shut down Benally's operations in 2020 by getting a court injunction to stop him from growing on tribal land.
But, according to court records, Benally kept growing.
In the following months, the FBI stepped in, raiding 25 farms around Shiprock, uncovering more than 1,100 grow houses, 260,000 live plants, and 60,000 pounds of packaged pot. The FBI also found evidence the farms employed Chinese workers who were paid little to nothing kept in substandard living conditions, and were also used as drug mules.
New Mexico cannabis regulators look to establish task force to curb illegal activity
Then there was the environmental impact of the operation with investigators uncovering unauthorized wells tapping the San Juan River, as well as dams made of sandbags to harness river water for irrigation. But shutting down those farms, according to the US attorney, did not stop Benally from staying in business.
On Friday, the FBI descended on the two farms outside Estancia, which started as legal operations, but as a Larry Barker investigation last year revealed, state regulators revoked their licenses after finding they were violating state laws.
Now those farms are shut down and piles and piles of pot have been seized. 'A lot of this is under court order, some people also were arrested,' says Special Agent Bujanda.
Benally is facing six federal counts related to drug manufacturing and trafficking as well as polluting waterways.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lawsuit filed against City of Albuquerque and motel owners over shooting death in police car
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The family of Matthew 'Solo' Garcia is demanding justice following his death after police shot him while he was handcuffed in the back of a patrol car. They are suing multiple parties, including the city and a motel owner, claiming responsibility for his death. Story continues below News: Albuquerque couple facing charges in 4-month-old's death Investigation: Politicians sink $13M in closed New Mexico tourist attraction Trending: Videos show man in dumpster getting dumped into waste truck in Albuquerque Events: Albuquerque Summerfest's 2025: What you need to know One of the attorneys representing the Garcia family, Frances Crockett Carpenter, said, 'This was a human life. This was a human who deserved the same constitutional protections as everyone else.' 'They had no right to approach his home. They had no right to question him. They had no right to arrest him and handcuff him,' said Taylor Smith, another attorney representing the family. On October 18, 2024, the city was conducting a code enforcement cleanup at the Tewa Lodge due to various safety concerns and criminal activity. APD (Albuquerque Police Department) was present to assist when they encountered Garcia, who was living at the motel. Police deemed him suspicious, so they handcuffed him and placed him in the back of a police car. Attorneys highlighted a series of issues with this arrest, beginning with the fact that Garcia was not pat down, as shown in police body camera footage. In the video, an officer can be heard saying, 'Hey, can you just keep eyes on him, please? He's moving a lot, and I haven't searched him yet.' The police later discovered that Garcia was armed. One officer asked, 'What do you have in your hand, dude?' to which Garcia replied, 'A gun.' The shooting unfolding quickly, with one officer trying to grab the gun while two others opened fire from the opposite side of the car. The attorneys also pointed out that some of the officers present lacked proper training and had a history of failing to pat down suspects. Carpenter saying, 'You make sure that your officers are trained and when they don't follow their training, they're disciplined for it. They get additional remedial training.' The attorneys also cited that the city's code enforcement department also holds some of the responsibility, arguing that they failed to notify the residents of the Tewa Lodge about the planned shutdown, violating eviction laws. They also added that the motel owners contributed to the situation by neglecting the property's upkeep, which allowed criminal activity to flourish and led to the city's intervention. 'The Tewa Lodge could have provided notice to those individuals saying you have a couple of days to get rid of the criminal activity, otherwise I have to evict you and follow the court process,' said Smith In response, the city send News 13 a statement: The City will be prepared to respond to the allegations in court. In these tough times, it's critical that our City cracks down on nests of crime, drugs and neglect. We cannot allow vulnerable people to be preyed upon, trafficked, or forced to live in squalor. That's why we're taking action to clean up problem properties across the city. When motels fail to meet basic living standards, they put tenants and the public at serious risk. From electrical hazards, disabled smoke alarms and blocked exits, to broken plumbing and pest infestations, these properties are dangerous. Code enforcement is taking action to hold them accountable, and their efforts are about health and safety, not policing. Staci Drangmeister, Director of Communications, Mayor's Office Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
26 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
FBI seeks woman accused of assaulting agent, stealing badge in Concord
The FBI's San Francisco field office is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of a woman who is accused of assaulting federal officers and stealing a special agent's badge in Concord this week. The FBI said in a news release the woman was wearing a black hoodie at the time of the incident. Photos released by the agency showed the woman was wearing a pink beanie and black medical mask. 'She is believed to be the individual who took the FBI Special Agent's badge,' the agency said in a statement. The alleged assault occurred on the same day immigration hearings in San Francisco and Concord were halted following protests after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted a new round of arrests. The FBI did not say in its statement whether the woman was involved in the Concord protests. At least four people were arrested at Concord's immigration court on Tuesday, according to a previous Chronicle report. Anyone who has information about the case can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, local FBI offices, the nearest American embassy or consulate or can submit a tip online at
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man arrested in connection to Cowabunga Bay shooting in Henderson
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Henderson police arrested a man in connection to a shooting at Cowabunga Bay Water Park that left one person injured. On Tuesday around 5:10 p.m., Henderson detectives and the FBI Criminal Apprehension Team arrested 25-year-old Diamante Burton near the 6000 block of Boulder Highway. He faces charges of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, battery with the use of a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, three counts of discharging a gun where a person might be endangered, assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Man taken to hospital after shooting in Cowabunga Bay parking lot On May 30 around 11 p.m., Henderson police responded to the 900 block of Galleria Drive on North Gibson Road and West Galleria Drive after a report of a large fight. When officers arrived, people began to disperse and were asked to leave. Officers then left the area, however, shortly after, a separate fight and possible shooting were reported. When officers arrived a second time, they found a man with multiple apparent gunshot wounds lying on the ground. The man was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries. One man was detained at the scene. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
