Thread: Major Arizona drug smuggling ring broken up

Major Arizona drug smuggling ring broken up

By BOB CHRISTIE, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 10:17 a.m.

PHOENIX — Authorities say they've broken up a drug trafficking ring that brought at least 40,000 pounds of marijuana into southern Arizona from Mexico.

U.S. Attorney for Arizona Dennis Burke said Tuesday that the smuggling ring was extremely sophisticated. It used truck-mounted ramps to get smuggling vehicles over border fences, counter-surveillance to avoid detection and hidden compartments in vehicles to bring in the pot. Some marijuana was also carried over the border in makeshift backpacks.

The three-year investigation into the Mexican ring by federal, state and local law enforcement in Arizona led to 26 suspects indicted on federal charges and 13 on state charges. Among those indicted was an employee of the prosecutor's office in Cochise County, Ariz., who allegedly took money to feed information to the ring.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... broken-up/

well, this is a start.
how many of these people ahve been arrested

Originally Posted by jamesw62

well, this is a start.
how many of these people ahve been arrested

Looks like 34 have been arrested so far.

"Of the 39 defendants, the U.S. Attorney's Office said 26 were indicted on federal conspiracy and drug counts; 13 face charges in state court. Five have avoided arrest, and a sixth absconded after posting bail."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... en-up.html