The Montezuma Cortez Narcotics Investigation Team (MCNIT), a partnership between the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office and the Cortez Police Department, continues to work diligently to remove dangerous narcotics from our communities and improve public safety. Since the beginning of the year, MCNIT has seized nearly three quarters of a pound of cocaine worth about $34,000, recovered more than $21,000 in U.S. currency, and made multiple arrests. MCNIT was also nominated by Cortez Police Chief Vernon Knuckles for the Colorado Drug Investigators Association’s 2025 Drug Task Force of the Year award for Operation Wild Mustang.

Most recently, a joint undercover operation that concluded on May 8 resulted in the removal of more than one million dollars in illegal drugs from local circulation. Investigators recovered more than 61 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and approximately 56,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills. This effort was supported by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Montrose Police Department, the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

These dangerous substances pose a serious threat to families in our area, and their removal shows the ongoing commitment of the Cortez Police Department. Our officers and detectives continue to break up drug trafficking groups that operate here, helping make our community safer for everyone who lives and works in Montezuma County.

Operations like these rely on both dedicated law enforcement and a community that is willing to speak up. Information is one of the most important tools we have to fight drug trafficking. People can help keep Cortez safe by calling or texting 911 to report suspicious activity or by using the Crimewatch mobile app to send anonymous tips using the  Submit A Tip function. 
The more information MCNIT receives, the better our teams can protect the community.