On Thursday, June 23, 2022, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper stopped the driver of a GMC Sierra pickup truck for moving violations on Interstate 8 eastbound near milepost 63, in Roll, Arizona. During the traffic stop, the trooper observed indications of criminal activity. While conducting a search of the vehicle, the trooper located approximately 93.5 pounds of methamphetamine concealed throughout the truck.

The suspect driver, 27-year-old Jesus Alvarado-Flores, of Yuma, was booked into the Yuma County Jail on charges including possession and transportation of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Tuesday, June 28, 2022, Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) detectives arrested three suspects near 75th Avenue and McDowell Road in Phoenix following a drug smuggling investigation.

The suspects include 70-year-old Ramon M. Mendez, of Blythe, CA; 72-year-old Socorro P. Martinez, of Westmoreland, CA; and a 17-year-old male.

Detectives performed a search of Martinez’s vehicle and located approximately 64.3 pounds of methamphetamine.

Mendez and Martinez face charges including possession, transportation, and sale of a dangerous drug. Charges against the juvenile suspect are pending.

Homeland Security Investigations and the AZDPS SWAT team, Highway Patrol Division and Scientific Analysis Bureau assisted with this investigation.

On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper stopped the driver of a Toyota RAV4 for moving violations on eastbound Interstate 8 near milepost 21, in Wellton. During the traffic stop, the trooper observed indicators of criminal activity. While conducting a search of the vehicle, the trooper located approximately 11.9 pounds of suspected fentanyl pills.

The driver and sole occupant, 28-year-old Laura Yancel Robles, of Phoenix, was booked into the Yuma County Jail on charges including conspiracy, participating in an illegal enterprise, transportation of a narcotic drug, and possession of a narcotic drug for sale.

Later that day, AZDPS Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM) detectives served a related search warrant on the residence of Carlos Ramirez-Gutierrez, 29, in San Luis, AZ. Detectives seized the following items from the residence:

• Approximately 2.1 pounds of methamphetamine
• Approximately 1.18 pounds of fentanyl pills
• Approximately 2.08 pounds of fentanyl powder
• Approximately 1.18 pounds of unknown powder
• 2 high-capacity rifles
• 6 handguns
• 2 firearm suppressors
• Magazines
• Ammunition
• 1 BB replica rifle
• Two vehicles
• $2,436 in U.S. currency 

Ramirez-Gutierrez was arrested and booked into the Yuma County Jail on charges including:

• Possession of a narcotic drug for sale
• Possession of a dangerous drug for sale
• Transportation of a narcotic drug
• Money laundering
• Misconduct with weapons in a drug offense
• Misconduct with weapons by a prohibited possessor
• Conspiracy
• Participating in an illegal enterprise 

The San Luis Police Department, Yuma Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration assisted AZDPS with this investigation.