Chandler police conduct third marijuana bust this month

12 commentsby Kate Jacobs - Nov. 22, 2010 05:53 PM
The Arizona Republic
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Chandler police arrested four gang-affiliated members who tried to purchase more than 260 pounds of marijuana.

According to the police report, a suspect identified as Abel Vasquez Delava was the go-between for three other suspects who were interested in buying 650 pounds of marijuana.

Officers said Delava inspected the marijuana and said the buyers were interested in eventually buying at least 650 pounds of weed at $480 per pound. He said he would take 260 pounds to start, police said.

When Delava and the other suspects, identified as Antonio Sosa Lopez, 36, Miguel Montes De Oca, 32, and Jose Moreno Prado, 49, showed up at an undisclosed location Thursday to purchase the drugs, they took possession of 15 bales that weighed approximately 270 pounds.

According to police, De Oca then paid $125,490 that had been concealed in the suspects' van.

Police had been keeping the suspects under surveillance, and at that point, they burst into the building and took all four into custody.

According to police reports, Prado claimed he was at the building to pick up a car but was unable to tell them what type of car.

Lopez reportedly told police he was there to fix an air conditioning unit. The two other suspects invoked their right to counsel, authorities said.

All but one of the men are illegal immigrants and had outstanding arrest warrants or prior offenses, police reports state.

Police said De Oca claimed to be a U.S. citizen and has no prior criminal history.

Officers arrested all of the suspects on charges of conspiracy, marijuana possession for sale, money laundering, and charges related to participating with a criminal syndicate.

This was the third major Chandler bust in three weeks. The seizures have netted 12 arrests and approximately $277,270.



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