Alleged Heroin Smuggler Arrested in Phoenix

Updated: Saturday, 14 Apr 2012, 7:15 PM MST
Published : Saturday, 14 Apr 2012, 7:04 PM MST

PHOENIX - A man has been arrested after thousands of dollars worth of heroin is found in his car Friday night.

Mario Alberto Hernandez, 37, was arrested by Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies after they said their canine unit found four pounds of black tar heroin in his vehicle.

MCSO had been conducting an undercover operation into heroin smuggling, and based on information from the investigation, deputies pulled over Hernandez's car near 75th Avenue and McDowell Road.

Deputies said Hernandez is a known transporter of heroin from Mexico. He was also wanted for two outstanding felony warrants and one misdemeanor warrant.

Hernandez was arrested and booked into the 4th Avenue Jail.

Deputies said the heroin is worth thousands of dollars, but they believe most of the drugs being transported through Arizona eventually end up on the east coast -- where drug prices double.

According to a news release, Sheriff Joe Arpaio is continuing to crack down on drug trafficking and illegal immigration and says he is planning a major crime suppression operation in the very near future.

Alleged Heroin Smuggler Arrested in Phoenix