22 Arrested in 5-State Drug Sting

Dubbed 'Operation Special Delivery'

Updated: Wednesday, 15 Jun 2011, 5:12 PM MST
Published : Wednesday, 15 Jun 2011, 9:57 AM MST

PHOENIX - Wednesday afternoon, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, along with a special agent from the DEA, announced the results from their latest joint operation.

Deputies served arrest warrants in Maricopa and Pinal County, as DEA agents made arrests in New York City, Cleveland, Ohio, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Los Angeles, California.

After a year-long investigation into a major marijuana trafficking ring, 22 people have been arrested, 17 in the valley.

Sheriff's deputies spent the past year working with the DEA, tracking money and drugs transported through shipping companies. Sheriff Arpaio says Phoenix served as the distribution hub for the drug ring.

Two of those arrested Wednesday were UPS employees. The rest of the suspects were mainly in their 30s or 40s, some of them in the country illegally.

"Drug traffickers would set up shop here, obtain the marijuana from Mexico, and deliver the drugs to other cities," said Sheriff Arpaio.

"If you have somebody on the inside of any criminal organization, it's always easier to facilitate your crime," said DEA Special Agent Doug Coleman. "These type of investigations force these drug trafficking organizations to reconstitute themselves and set them back in their operations."

The suspects are facing charges including drug possession, conspiracy to distribute, and money laundering. Authorities also seized 1,000 pounds of marijuana, 17 vehicles, and over $1 million in cash.

It was called Operation Special Delivery.

Names have not yet been made available.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/cr ... y-06152011