High-speed chase across NM ends in huge fentanyl bust

What started as a routine surveillance operation quickly spiraled into a dangerous, high-speed chase across eastern New Mexico — ending with a crash, an arrest, and the seizure of thousands of deadly fentanyl pills.

Now, an Albuquerque man is facing the consequences.

A federal jury has convicted 33-year-old Tevin King of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl following a dramatic pursuit that stretched from Hobbs to Portales and finally to Clovis, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.

The case underscores the growing threat of fentanyl trafficking in the state — and the lengths traffickers will go to avoid capture.

According to court testimony, King was already wanted on a federal arrest warrant tied to a supervised release violation when agents tracked him down in Hobbs in August 2024. Law enforcement observed a black Chevrolet Malibu leaving a residence and began following the vehicle as it traveled toward Portales.

That’s where things escalated.

Agents followed the vehicle to a Stripes gas station, where a passenger exited and went inside the store. At that moment, King — who had been hiding inside the vehicle — suddenly moved into the driver’s seat and took off as agents attempted to close in.

What followed was a high-speed chase through city streets and across multiple jurisdictions.

During the pursuit, King attempted to ditch evidence — tossing a canvas tote bag out of the driver’s side window near Eastern New Mexico University. The move didn’t work.

A civilian witnessed the bag being thrown and retrieved it, ultimately turning it over to campus police. Inside: approximately 16,000 fentanyl pills.

The chase didn’t end there.

King continued fleeing into Clovis, driving recklessly through a residential area before slamming into a law enforcement vehicle, finally bringing the pursuit to a halt.

He was arrested at the scene.

After a four-day trial, a federal jury found King guilty of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl — a charge that carries severe penalties given the scale of the drug seizure.

King now faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could receive a life sentence when he is formally sentenced. A sentencing date has not yet been set, but the court has already ordered that he remain in custody.

Federal officials say the case highlights both the scale of fentanyl trafficking operations and the coordinated effort required to stop them.

The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, local police departments in Portales and Clovis, and multiple regional drug task forces — underscoring how widespread and organized these operations have become.

While the case ended in a conviction, the broader issue remains.

Fentanyl continues to flood into communities across New Mexico, driving overdose deaths and fueling crime — with traffickers often willing to take extreme risks, including high-speed chases through populated areas, to avoid being caught.

In this case, those risks didn’t pay off.

But the scale of the seizure — 16,000 pills — is a stark reminder of just how much is still moving through the state.