The primary mission of the Special Investigations Division is to protect the safety and welfare of citizens by investigating violations of criminal and administrative law through enforcement of the state's alcohol, tobacco and gaming (gambling) laws. DPS Law Enforcement Program's Mission Statement and Core Values

In 1987, the New Mexico Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) was abolished, and the Department of Public Safety’s Special Investigations Division was charged with authority over all investigations and enforcement activities required by the Liquor Control Act. A separate state agency, the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department’s Alcohol and Gaming Division (AGD), is responsible for all licensing of alcohol and gaming establishments, as well as denials, suspensions, and revocations.

The Special Investigations Division, commonly referred to as “SID,” has agents stationed statewide to investigate alcohol, tobacco and gaming violations. SID agents are commissioned police investigators who conduct criminal and administrative investigations, which often includes: violations by liquor and gaming establishments, financial crimes involving liquor establishments, unlawful manufacture, transportation or sale of alcoholic beverages (“bootlegging”), sales of alcohol to minors or to intoxicated persons, theft of alcoholic beverage, public nuisance establishments, prostitution, unlawful sales of tobacco products, false, altered and forged licenses and identification cards, illegal gambling and related criminal activity.

SID agents routinely perform special enforcement operations, such as plainclothes patrols and inspections of licensed liquor and gaming establishments, underage alcohol enforcement operations (i.e. Cops-in-Shops, compliance operations, sting and surveillance operations), and source investigations. SID agents conduct source investigations to identify the source of the alcoholic beverages distributed illegally, provided to minors, provided to intoxicated persons or to persons involved in serious incidents and DWI. If you have a fatality, serious injury or other alcohol-related crime in your area, please contact the nearest SID agent.

Law enforcement agencies and concerned citizens are encouraged to contact SID with referrals, questions or concerns regarding violations. Investigations conducted by SID agents may result in arrests, criminal charges against the violator, administrative charges against the licensee of an alcohol or gaming establishment, and/or a combination of criminal and administrative charges. Reports of violations may be directed to the nearest SID agent by contacting your local State Police office.

Law enforcement agencies and licensed liquor establishments may also contact the SID for additional assistance, including accredited law enforcement training, and educational presentations for merchants and servers.