DPS Officers in Cochise County make strides in the fight against drugs

Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Officers in Cochise County have seized 7,887 pounds of marijuana in the past three months.

The latest seizure occurred on November 30 at about 4:15 p.m. when a DPS officer made a routine traffic stop for illegal window tint and unsafe lane usage on Interstate 10 about two miles west of Benson. Upon approaching the Dodge pickup, the officer observed bundles of marijuana behind the front seat of the truck. The vehicle contained 217 pounds of marijuana. The occupants of the vehicle, Ariel Duenas-Dorame, 27, of Mexico, and Manuel Cabrera-Brena, 51, of Mexico, were arrested and booked into the Sierra Vista jail for possession/transportation of marijuana for sale.

Another recent seizure occurred on November 28 at about 5:00 p.m. when a DPS officer in Willcox was notified by the U.S. Border Patrol of a suspicious vehicle parked at an area restaurant. Upon seeing the Border Patrol Unit, the driver fled the vehicle and the passenger went inside of the restaurant. Officers approached the vehicle and saw a bundle of marijuana in the back seat. Officers went inside and identified the passenger, Ruben Romero, 18, of Tucson, who was arrested and booked at the Willcox jail for possession/transportation of marijuana for sale. A complete search of the vehicle revealed 132 pounds of marijuana.

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