Pinal deputies seize pot worth nearly $1 million in traffic

Pinal deputies seize pot worth nearly $1 million in traffic stop

by William D'Urso - Oct. 26, 2010 03:20 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com
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Pinal County Sheriff's seized 1,922 pounds of marijuana Sunday after deputies stopped a stolen Chevy Suburban carrying at least one illegal immigrant near Vekol Valley Road and Interstate 8.


Deputies said they saw the vehicle driving without headlights around 8:30 p.m. and that the driver put it in reverse when they attempted to stop it. The driver and one of two passengers then got out of the vehicle and ran. They have not been found.


The suspect who was captured said he didn't know marijuana was in the vehicle, and had boarded the vehicle in Mexico, the sheriff's office said. Deputies turned him over to the U.S. Boarder Patrol.


Deputies put the street value of the marijuana at around $960,000.


The suburban used to transport the marijuana was reported stolen, deputies said.


At about 6 a.m. Monday, deputies patrolling the same area saw two Hispanic males hiding in the bushes.


When officers tried to make contact, the two men, both armed with long rifles, fled south into the desert, the sheriff's office said.


Deputies said one suspect dropped a bag containing a fully loaded rifle magazine, but that both men eluded their pursuers.



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