On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) Vehicle Theft Task Force (VTTF) detectives served a search warrant on a Phoenix business and arrested five suspects in connection with a stolen vehicle investigation.

When detectives served the warrant in the area of 28th Avenue and Buckeye Road in Phoenix, they located five intact stolen vehicles and parts of eight dismantled stolen vehicles. Among the intact vehicles were the following:

• 2005 GMC Yukon (reported stolen in Phoenix)
• 1991 Ford F250 (reported stolen in Avondale)
• 1999 Chevrolet Silverado (reported stolen in Phoenix)
• 2012 Nissan Sentra (reported stolen in Phoenix)
• 2002 Lexus S300 (reported stolen in Phoenix)

Susana Grajales, 49, was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on charges including operating a chop shop, theft of means of transportation, theft of controlled property, and illegal control of an enterprise. Jose Francisco Diaz Celis, 48, faces charges including trafficking in stolen property and theft of means of transportation.

Three additional suspects - Jose Lopez Cruz, 46, Daniel Torres Jurado, 60, and Eddison Elias Macario, 44 – each face a charge of theft of means of transportation.

The VTTF is comprised of city, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies participating in a concerted effort to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals and criminal organizations that profit from the theft of motor vehicles and related crimes.

The VTTF serves a vital mission on behalf of the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA) to reduce vehicle theft in Arizona by deterring criminal activity through effective and proactive enforcement, prosecution and public awareness programs. The VTTF is substantially funded by an annual grant from the AATA.

Troopers continue working hard to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities.

On Thursday, June 6, 2024, Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) troopers seized approximately 138.6 pounds of illegal drugs in two separate incidents in southern Arizona.

The first incident occurred after a traffic stop in Yuma County on the morning of June 6th led to a vehicle search. During the search, a trooper located packages of suspected drug contraband concealed in a spare tire. Further investigation revealed additional packages hidden within the vehicle, and a total of approximately 38.6 pounds of fentanyl pills were discovered.

One suspect was arrested and booked into the Yuma County Jail on charges including transportation of a narcotic drug for sale and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Later that day, AZDPS detectives arrested two suspects and served a residential search warrant in the Tucson area following a separate investigation into suspected drug trafficking. Detectives seized approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine, three firearms, and $8,050 in cash.

Both suspects face charges including possession and transportation of a dangerous drug for sale.