A Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputy traffic stop resulted in the arrest of one smuggler, Odiel Alvarez-Morenoand the seizure of 167 pounds of marijuana believed to have been smuggled into Pinal County from Mexico. Four smugglers dressed in camouflage clothing fled from the vehicle and were not apprehended. Odiel Alvarez-Moreno, a 21-year-old west Phoenix resident, was arrested and is being held in the Pinal County Jail awaiting felony charges for Transporting Marijuana and Possession of Marijuana for Sale.
The sheriff’s deputy stopped a white Ford pickup on April 16 at 7:55 p.m. after observing the truck run a stop sign and speed up to 15 mph over the speed limit on Highway 84 northbound from Interstate 8.
Sheriff Paul Babeu said, “When the truck pulled over, four smugglers fled out the passenger’s side door into the desert. The driver stayed with the vehicle and was taken into custody by the deputy. The deputy found four large bundles of marijuana in the bed of the truck totaling 167 pounds.” Sheriff Babeu went on to say, “Unfortunately, we did not have other backup deputies in the area to help look for the smugglers that ran into the desert. The driver that was arrested told a detective that he picked up the four smugglers and marijuana on Interstate 8 just prior to being stopped by the deputy.”