Pinal sheriff reports 2 dozen arrests in smuggling corridor

Lindsey Collom -
Dec. 2, 2010 01:13 PM
The Arizona Republic

The Pinal County Sheriff's Office in recent weeks has detained more than two dozen people and seized thousands of pounds of marijuana in the Vekol Valley.

The Sheriff's Office on Wednesday released an account of law-enforcement activities in the known smuggling corridor, and Sheriff Paul Babeu said his office continues to "direct as many resources as possible to this area."

He said his deputies "are doing all that we can to help stop the continuous flow of drugs and human trafficking from Mexico."

The stretch of desert in western Pinal County is also where Deputy Louie Puroll reported he was shot and injured by drug runners in April. Puroll was placed on administrative leave Wednesday following an article published in the Phoenix New Times that quoted the deputy claiming he participated in even more dangerous gunbattles in the desert west of Casa Grande.

Deputy suspended over drug cartel comments

Hours before the announcement, the Sheriff's Office gave this account of activities in Vekol Valley:

Nov. 17: Deputies arrested a 17-year-old boy and seized 12 bundles of marijuana. Authorities tried to stop the teen's vehicle, a 2000 Chevy minivan, but it drove off at speeds over 100 mph. Deputies found the minivan abandoned a short time later; inside were 11 bundles of pot. Deputies followed tracks from the van to find the teenager, a suspected illegal immigrant, and another bundle of marijuana.

Nov. 18: Deputies arrested the drivers of three trucks they believe were headed to pick up illegal immigrants on I-8.

Also that day, authorities observed seven people carrying large burlap bundles on their backs near I-8. When deputies tried to make contact, six dropped their loads and fled. The seventh - identified as 29-year-old Ernesto Salazar, of Caborca, Mexico - was arrested. Deputies seized a total of 350 pounds of marijuana.

Nov. 19: Deputies found two abandoned trucks in the desert. The vehicles, both reported stolen, were loaded with a combined weight of 3,700 pounds of marijuana.

Nov. 21: Deputies smelled marijuana during the traffic stop of a Ford Explorer. A search of the vehicle revealed 240 pounds of pot. Three people were arrested.

Also that day, deputies stopped a vehicle containing seven suspected illegal immigrants and turned them over to U.S. Border Patrol.

Deputies seized 1,750 pounds of pot from an abandoned truck found in the desert.

Nov. 22: About 50 people fled when deputies tried to stop a Ford F250 truck driving on I-8 with its lights off. One person was taken into custody after jumping in a canal. Six six people were turned over to Border Patrol.

Deputies found six people hiding in a wash near I-8. Also found were communications equipment and 14 bundles, or 220 pounds, of marijuana.

Deputies seized three trucks containing a total of 2,035 pounds of pot.

Nov. 23: Authorities arrested six suspected illegal immigrants that had been carrying an estimated 246 pounds of marijuana on their backs in a residential area.

Nov. 27: Deputies were involved in two vehicle pursuits that resulted in the seizure of 2,140 pounds of marijuana and two arrests.

Nov. 28: Saul Soto-Aguirre, 29, of Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, called 911 about a dead body in the desert. Soto-Aguirre told deputies that he, the 42-year-old dead man, and four others had paid a guide $1,300 each to be led into the U.S. from Mexico.

They had been walking for three days and had not eaten in two days. Soto-Aguirre said the group continued, leaving them behind. Deputies followed the others tracks to I-8 and turned Soto-Aguirre,42, over to Border Patrol.

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