New Mexico authorities search Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch as part of reopened criminal investigation

Who is conducting the search and what is it connected to?

The New Mexico Department of Justice said the search was conducted under Attorney General Raúl Torrez with assistance from the New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, and it is tied to a criminal investigation into alleged illegal activity at the ranch before Epstein’s 2019 death. Newsweek SAPO

Why is Zorro Ranch receiving attention now?

State officials and news reports point to renewed scrutiny following the release of large volumes of federal documents and reporting that the ranch may not have been searched previously to the same extent as Epstein’s other properties. Spiegel Online Guardian Guardian

What have officials said about public access during the search?

Authorities asked the public to stay away from the area and said people should not fly drones nearby during the operation. Newsweek Al Jazeera Online