Pinal County sheriff: $9 million in drugs from Mexico

Connor Radnovich - Jun. 28, 2011 06:06 AM
The Arizona Republic-12 News Breaking News Team

Nearly $9 million worth of illegal drugs were seized by Pinal County deputies after a traffic stop, authorities said.

Almost 200 pounds of meth and about 103 pounds of black tar heroin were discovered in an SUV after it was stopped Friday traveling northbound on Arizona 347.

When the vehicle stopped, a male passenger leapt from the car and fled on foot.

The driver, 28-year-old Jessica Velasco, was arrested after deputies spotted several packages of what they believed to be illegal drugs from outside the car.

"Nothing in the vehicle is mine, the vehicle belongs to my husband and he is going to be pissed. I'm not a bad guy, just did a bad thing," Velasco said, according to the deputies.

She was booked on suspicion of possession of a dangerous drug, possession of a narcotic drug and transportation of a dangerous drug, among other charges.

She is being held on a $500,000 bond.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said an investigation discovered that several people had smuggled the drugs in from Mexico and loaded them into the SUV for delivery throughout the United States.

Authorities are searching for the passenger.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/pina ... izure.html