Working with the U.S. Border Patrol in western Pinal County, PCSO detectives located and arrested nine drug smugglers in the desert north of Interstate 8 near Stanfield at 9:30 p.m. on March 9. The nine smugglers were among twelve men spotted by Border Patrol agents walking through the desert carrying packs of bulk marijuana. Agents and detectives seized 10 packs of marijuana, later weighted in at 507 pounds. (Street value approximated at $250,000)
At 9:30 p.m. on March 9, Pinal County Sheriff’s detectives assigned to the Anti-Smuggling Unit were notified by U.S. Border Patrol agents working in the area of Interstate 8 in western Pinal County that they observed 12 men carrying backpacks, walking north in the desert north of the interstate. The PCSO Aviation Unit assisted in tracking the men until ground personnel closed in on their position. When the detectives and agents were closing in, the smugglers fled in different directions into the desert, dropping their packs.
Sheriff Paul Babeu said, “Through the well coordinated efforts between our detectives, the Aviation Unit and the heroes working for the U.S. Border Patrol, we were able to capture nine of the 12 smugglers in the group and seize over 500 pounds of marijuana destined for the streets of America.” Babeu went on to say, “The smugglers admitted to illegally crossing the U.S. – Mexico border some days prior, carrying the packs of marijuana. One of the smugglers was found to be a 16-year-old juvenile from Mexico, he is being held at the Pinal County Juvenile Detention facility. The eight other smugglers are being held in the PCSO Adult Detention Center awaiting charges for drug smuggling.”