In recent weeks, Federal Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have made significant seizures of cannabis products from state-licensed operators in New Mexico, totaling over $300,000 in value, as reported by KRQE. These seizures occurred during routine CBP checkpoints situated in the southern region of the state, near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Nick Spoor, the Operations Manager at Top Crop Cannabis Co., shared his experience with the border agents. Spoor stated that typically, the checkpoints involved simple inquiries about citizenship without the presence of drug-sniffing dogs. However, on February 14, while transporting 22 pounds of legally cultivated cannabis from Top Crop’s facility in Las Cruces to one of its Albuquerque stores, Spoor was detained by border agents for over three hours. Subsequently, all the cannabis inventory, valued at approximately $139,000, was seized. Although the agents assured Spoor of providing instructions for reclaiming the product via mail, no instructions were received.
Matt Chadwick, CEO of Top Crop Cannabis Co., expressed his shock and bewilderment at the seizure, emphasizing the company’s compliance with regulations. Chadwick underscored that the confiscated inventory was properly manifested, and the company had been passing through the checkpoint without incident for over a year.
Overall, state cannabis regulators have confirmed that CBP agents have confiscated cannabis products worth more than $300,000 from state-licensed operators in New Mexico. Despite the state’s launch of its adult-use cannabis industry in 2022, federal law enforcement agencies such as CBP continue to enforce federal cannabis prohibition, considering it a Schedule I substance.
The seizures have raised concerns among operators in New Mexico’s burgeoning cannabis industry, highlighting the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict between state and federal cannabis laws.
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