LOS ALAMOS, NM — The Los Alamos Police Department says an undercover compliance operation turned up illegal THC products sold to informants under 21 without age verification at one local smoke shop, even as four other businesses fully followed New Mexico law.
Detectives in the Criminal Investigation Division ran “Operation High Standards” in June and July after concerns about illegal activity. The effort used confidential informants under 21 to try to buy alcohol and THC products at liquor stores, smoke shops and dispensaries across Los Alamos County.
Police said the findings led to laboratory testing, education for employees and the removal of products from shelves. Officials described the operation as part of an ongoing effort to keep illegal cannabis products out of local stores and to remind the public to report suspicious activity.
Undercover checks tested whether stores asked for age verification
According to LAPD, detectives sent confidential informants younger than 21 into businesses in the county to see whether employees would properly check identification before making sales. The operation focused on alcohol and illegal THC products, with officers looking for stores that followed state rules and those that did not.
Four establishments complied fully, police said. In those cases, informants were asked for government-issued ID and were denied purchases. LAPD highlighted those results as examples of businesses that were following New Mexico law during the checks.
The department said the effort was designed to address concerns about illegal activity, not simply to catch isolated mistakes. The operation was carried out over two months and involved direct attempts to buy products that are restricted by age and state regulations.
Three purchases at Smoke Vibez led to further testing
Police said three different employees at Smoke Vibez, 800 Trinity Drive, Suite A, sold THC-labeled products to confidential informants on three separate occasions without asking for age verification. The department said the same location was involved each time, but different workers handled the sales.
After the purchases, detectives worked with the New Mexico Licensing and Regulation Enforcement Bureau to send the products to a New Mexico laboratory. That testing was used to determine whether the items were legal for sale under state law.
The police department said the lab results confirmed serious problems with the products. Two tested with THC levels high enough to make them illegal for sale, while a third was identified as counterfeit.
Lab results showed counterfeit hemp and dangerous pesticides
According to LAPD, the counterfeit product contained hemp and dangerous pesticides. That finding raised additional concern beyond the illegal THC content, because the product was not only misrepresented but also contained substances that could pose health risks.
The department tied the testing to a broader statewide issue. In 2025, KRQE News reporter Larry Barker documented similar problems in New Mexico, describing illegal cannabis and counterfeit products as part of a larger enforcement challenge.
By sending the seized items for laboratory analysis, police and state regulators aimed to verify what the products actually contained. The results, officers said, showed why age checks and legal sourcing matter for customers and for businesses that sell regulated goods.
State regulators chose education over criminal enforcement
After the laboratory findings came back, LAPD detectives and special agents with the Enforcement Bureau visited Smoke Vibez in September. During that follow-up, they made sure employees were educated on New Mexico law and that the illegal products were taken off the shelves.
Police said the business cooperated with the process and came into compliance. Because of that cooperation, the Enforcement Bureau chose to emphasize education and best practices moving forward rather than immediate criminal enforcement action, which officers said can often follow a second violation.
The department said the outcome reflected a corrective approach, not a dismissal of the violations. Officials used the case to reinforce the expectations placed on businesses that handle age-restricted products in New Mexico.
Police plan more checks and want suspicious activity reported
LAPD said future compliance checks are planned as part of its continuing effort to monitor sales of alcohol and THC products. Det. Sgt. Ryan Wolking urged residents to report suspicious activity and help officers identify stores that may be breaking the law.
The department provided two contact options for the public. People can call LAPD Dispatch at 505.662.8222, or they can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 505.662.8282.
Police also pointed residents to the state’s Cannabis Regulation Act for more information about the rules governing cannabis in New Mexico. Officials did not announce any criminal charges tied to the Smoke Vibez case, instead stressing compliance, education and future monitoring.
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