Pinal Deputies Seize 280 Pounds of Pot After Pursuit

A pursuit and crash in the desert leads Pinal County Sheriff deputies to 280 pounds of marijuana and one smuggler arrested on Sunday afternoon November 29th.

The 22-year-old male smuggler, from Sinaloa, Mexico, was spotted in a silver Ford SUV on Papago Road, just south of the Ak-Chin Indian Community. Just after noon, a deputy attempted to stop him for a civil traffic violation, but the driver fled at speeds up to 70 mph, until he crashed into a clump of trees north of W. Jean Dr. and N. Glyde Dr. The smuggler fled on foot and was apprehended about 1/2 mile north by an Ak-Chin police officer assisting the PCSO deputy.

The Ford SUV was found to contain 20 bales of marijuana, total weight of 280 pounds (Street Value: $140,000). The smuggler and lone occupant of the vehicle Guadalupe Acosta-Gutierrez, 22-years-old was arrested and booked into Pinal County Jail. He is being held, pending charges of drug smuggling and felony flight.