On Friday, January 26, 2024, at around 8:13 p.m., detectives with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) State Gang Task Force attempted to contact the driver of a vehicle parked at a car wash on East Airway Avenue in Kingman, Arizona. As detectives approached the suspect vehicle, the suspect rammed two detective vehicles, at which point a trooper-involved shooting occurred.
On Sunday, January 28, 2024, at around 1:36 a.m., an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper observed what they believed to be a disabled vehicle stopped on the left shoulder of eastbound State Route 202 near Alma School Road (milepost 12), in Mesa. When the trooper stopped to check the vehicle, they observed a single male occupant unresponsive in the driver’s seat. The trooper made entry into the vehicle to conduct a welfare check on the driver. At that time, the trooper discovered the driver had suffered a gunshot wound.
- For Immediate Release -
On Tuesday, January 23, 2024, Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) troopers seized more than 200 pounds of fentanyl valued at over one million dollars following a traffic stop in southern Arizona.
At around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, AZDPS troopers stopped the driver of a commercial vehicle on westbound Interstate 10 in the Eloy area for a civil traffic violation. During the stop, troopers and U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents discovered more than 200 pounds of fentanyl concealed in duffel bags inside the truck. The suspect driver was arrested on felony drug-related charges. Further investigation revealed the drugs were bound for the Phoenix area.
This incident marks the third significant fentanyl seizure by state troopers in southern Arizona in six days. On Thursday, January 18, troopers seized approximately 148 pounds of fentanyl bound for Phoenix following two traffic stops in the Wellton and Tucson areas.
AZDPS would like to thank our partners at USBP for their assistance with this investigation.
- For Immediate Release -
Within a one-hour period in southern Arizona on Thursday, January 18, 2024, Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) troopers seized a total of approximately 459 pounds of methamphetamine, 148 pounds of fentanyl pills, and 2.55 pounds of cocaine in three separate traffic stops. A total of six suspects were arrested on felony drug-related charges.
Further investigation revealed the drugs were being transported from southern Arizona to Phoenix. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is approximately $1,285,000.
AZDPS would like to thank our partners at the office of Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance in this investigation.
