Nine arrested in alleged smuggling ring bust

Posted: Oct 21, 2014 11:24 AM CDTUpdated: Oct 21, 2014 2:49 PM CDTBy Tucson News Now Staff


Contents found inside alleged smuggling vehicle (Source: Pinal County Sheriff's Office)
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -The Pinal County Sheriff's Office said nine people were arrested on Oct. 16 after a two-month investigation of an alleged smuggling ring.

The investigation was conducted by the PCSO's Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Unit and Homeland Security Investigations.
According to a PCSO release, the following are in custody at the Maricopa County Jail - Adam Chavarria (age 22 of Casa Grande), Adrian Pasos (age 22 of Casa Grande), Francisco Gastellum Camacho (age 19 of Mexico), Edwardo Ontavaris (age 16 of Mexico), Daniel Moreno Lugo (age 20 of Mexico), Fidel Galaviz (age 23 of Mexico), Jesus Navarez Ceballos (age 28 of Mexico), Jose Angulo Casas (age 24 of Mexico), and Pedro Lavador Ortega (age 20 of Mexico). All are facing charges related to possession of marijuana for sale, transportation of marijuana and human smuggling.

The investigation into the alleged smuggling ring that moved both drugs and people began after a traffic stop in August 2014.
The arrests were made after PCSO investigators pulled over Chavarria, who was driving an SUV and Pasos, who was driving a van, after they both had stopped in a parking lot in Phoenix.

Detectives said a search found the rear seats of the passenger van had been removed and in their place were seven people dressed in camouflage allegedly lying on top of seven bundles of marijuana.

All nine suspects were arrested, according to the PCSO release, with assistance from Phoenix Police.

The drugs, weighing 276 pounds and worth an estimated $200,250, and three vehicles were seized for processing. The third vehicle was seized on a search warrant of a residence where Chavarria and Pasos were staying.

Chavarria allegedly admitted to investigators that he had been involved in a drug and human smuggling ring, and that he had been employed as a guide. Pasos also allegedly told law enforcement that he was going to be paid $100 to drive the van. According to investigators the seven illegal immigrants and seven bundles of marijuana had been picked up earlier in the morning on Oct. 16, south of Arizona City.

Investigators also say they found inside the vehicles 'carpet shoes,' which are commonly used by smugglers over their shoes to hide their tracks when walking in the desert, as well as a portable radio and $4,000 in cash.
http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/26842138/suspects-involved-in-alleged-smuggling-ring-now-in-custody