New Mexico investigators have launched an intensive search of the sprawling Zorro Ranch, the former estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as authorities move to secure evidence of alleged sex trafficking and systemic abuse.
Firefighters are assisting search teams combing the sprawling desert property, along with specialist state law enforcement units and forensic officials. The operation commenced on Monday morning and represents a significant escalation in the state's renewed criminal investigation, whichAttorney General Raúl Torrez officially reopened last month.
Officials confirmed the search is being conducted with the full cooperation of the current property owners, who purchased the site from the Epstein estate in 2023.
The tactical push follows therecent release of millions of previously sealed documentsby the U.S. Department of Justice, which survivors claim highlight the ranch as a primary hub for illegal activities that federal authorities largely ignored for years.
The development marks one of the biggest steps yet in attempts to uncover what may have taken place in the property and whether any evidence remains years after Epstein's death in 2019.
The ranch, purchased by Epstein in 1993, spans a large tract of land near Santa Fe and includes a mansion, multiple buildings, and even a private airstrip.
Given the estate's size and terrain, officials sought additional support from emergency personnel to assist with the search operation. Fire crews werereportedlydeployed to assist investigators as they worked across the large and often rugged landscape. The presence of firefighters underscores the logistical challenges of examining a property spanning thousands of acres, with numerous structures and remote areas.
The search follows the decision by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez to reopen an investigation that had previously stalled several years earlier. The state had begun looking into potential crimes linked to the ranch in 2019, but paused the effort at the request of federal prosecutors who were pursuing their own case against Epstein.
At the time, federal authorities were investigating Epstein for sex trafficking and abuse of underage girls. However, the New Mexico property itself was never searched by federal agents despite allegations from some women who said they were taken there. Now, investigators believe newly released documents and testimony from survivors could justify a deeper examination of the ranch. Authorities say the search is being conducted with the cooperation of the current property owners, whopurchased the estate from Epstein's estate in 2023.
Officials have emphasised that the operation is focused on gathering information and ensuring that any potential evidence linked to past crimes is properly documented.
Source: International Business Times UK
