ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – On Tuesday, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and other law enforcement officials provided an update on Operation Disruption, an initiative to combat human trafficking at our southern border.

Bregman is not only the Bernalillo County District Attorney, he is also the chairman of the Organized Crime Commission, which targets human trafficking on the New Mexico border.

“Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery,” Bregman said.

The governor, accompanied by law enforcement officials, presented the results of Operation Disruption, which targeted human trafficking operations at the border.

“If we don’t stop it, if we don’t disrupt it, we will continue to be victims,” ​​Lujan Grisham said.

For two weeks, law enforcement officers joined forces to strengthen the border system.

“The two weeks that this operation has been in place have resulted in a significant drop in the number of migrant deaths,” Bregman said.

Bregman shared a photo to illustrate the life-saving work. State Police officers found a woman in critical condition in the desert and saved her life with an ice bath.

According to the governor’s office, law enforcement found nine people in the desert during the operation, and a total of 91 were rescued by state police. 33 hideouts were identified. 16 people were arrested and now face state charges.

Bregman and the governor say operations like this have repercussions.

“You’re disrupting some of the criminal activity, you’re disrupting the fentanyl trade and the gun trade,” Lujan Grisham said.

They say more needs to be done.

“Our human trafficking laws need to be changed in the state of New Mexico,” Bregman said.

The governor said she will try again to change the law during the January session. In the meantime, Bregman vows law enforcement will continue to target human trafficking across the state.

“We know there are safe houses in Albuquerque, and we’re coming after them,” Bregman said.