LAS CRUCES- A Las Cruces elementary school teacher is in jail, facing charges of trafficking cocaine after a month-long investigation by the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department.

Roberto Varela, 35, was arrested at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, just before classes were to begin at Loma Heights Elementary, where he is a teacher.

Deputies with Metro Narcotics say Varela’s arrest came after a sting operation in the 1600 block of Rio Grande.
Varela has been booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center on one charge of cocaine trafficking. His bond has been set at $10,000.