Arizona Department of Public Safety seizes 3,600 pounds of Marijuana

On Thursday, March 3, 2011, a Department of Public Safety (DPS) Highway Patrol Officer assigned to Border Commercial Vehicle Enforcement stopped a commercial truck pulling a box trailer. The truck which was hauling produce was traveling from Nogales to Phoenix on Interstate 19 when the officer pulled the truck over for an equipment violation and conducted an inspection of the driver and truck. During the inspection, the driver was found to be unlicensed to drive a commercial vehicle and several other violations indicated the driver was not familiar with legitimate commercial vehicle operations.

With the assistance of a U.S. Border Patrol canine unit and Mobile Vehicle and Container Inspection System, a hidden compartment was discovered and found to contain 152 bundles of marijuana. The total weight of the marijuana was 3,616 pounds. The wholesale value of the marijuana is approximately $1.2 million. The Santa Cruz County Metro Narcotics Task Force processed the evidence and has taken disposition of the investigation.

The investigation is ongoing. Suspect information will be forthcoming.