Largest Highway Meth Bust in Arizona History

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Largest Highway Meth Bust in Arizona History

Jan 30, 2007 09:46 PM PST


Suleika Acosta KOLD News 13 Reporter

DPS makes a huge drug bust on Interstate 10. Close to $1 million worth of meth is in the hands of authorities. It's the largest single seizure on the highway in Arizona history. 18-year-old Joshio Amarillas was arrested Monday after a DPS officer found 68 pounds of meth in his pickup just South of the Pinal County line.

We spoke with the DPS officer who made the stop. He chose not to go on camera for privacy issues.

"That's probably the largest meth highway seizure of meth in the state of Arizona ever," says the officer.

This is what 68 pounds of methamphetamines looks like. The drugs were stashed in this hidden compartment in a Nissan truck bed.

"This is a sophisticated compartment. They have people in Mexico that's all they do for a living is dream up and build these sophisticated compartments to get drugs across the border," he says.

The DPS Canine Unit officer spotted the truck on I-10 and pulled the driver over for following another vehicle too close. And it was Rico, a trained narcotics dog, that sniffed out the meth.

Amarillas drove the million dollar stash through the Nogales port of entry Monday morning. Customs had no reason to suspect Amarillas. He is a U.S. citizen, had a valid Arizona Driver's License and is the registered owner of the truck that was carrying the meth.

Authorities believe he was headed to Phoenix. It's possible the meth could have been later distributed to the Tucson area. The Counter Narcotics Alliance and Drug Enforcement Agency are investigating this as part of a larger drug ring.

Amarillas is behind bars in Phoenix facing federal drug charges. Authorities say more arrests in connection with this drug bust are expected.

If a $1M in meth is the largest meth burst that they have made they are not looking very hard.