Authorities
Arrest at Least 70 Suspected Drug Smugglers in Major Bust in Arizona
Published October 31, 2011
Authorities have reportedly seized thousands of pounds of narcotics
and arrested 70 suspected drug smugglers in what they're calling one of the
biggest narcotics trafficking rings ever dismantled in Arizona.
An
official close to the investigation told Reuters that the suspects arrested in
Arizona have ties to a violent drug cartel based in the Mexican state of
Sinaloa.
"This
is one of the more substantial drug-smuggling operations going on right now.
This is a billion-dollar drug trade organization linked to the cartel," the
official told Reuters.
The
Pinal County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made
the bust Thursday in the Phoenix area and areas south, including Casa Grande and
Maricopa, after a 17-month investigation by local, state and federal
officials.
Reuters reports that authorities confiscated drugs, money, weapons,
ammunition and bullet-proof vests.
The
drugs were reportedly being smuggled from Mexico into Arizona by car,
plane, on foot and through tunnels.
Pinal
County Sheriff's spokesman Elias Johnson said Friday that the bust is the
biggest ever for his agency.
"It's
huge," he said. "It'll be an eye-opener for sure when we roll everything
out."
Drug
experts told Reuters that the Mexican cartel involved is believed to be
responsible for 65 percent of all drugs illegally smuggled into the
U.S.
The
federal Drug Enforcement Agency, Arizona Attorney General's Office and the Pinal
County Sheriff's Office plan a press conference to provide more details on
Monday morning in Phoenix.
The
Associated Press contributed to this report. READ MORE
