PHOENIX—Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) agents seized more than 160 pounds of drugs at three traffic stops last week. The drugs were transported from California to Oklahoma, from Tucson to Marana and from the Phoenix area to Denver.
On January 18, a DPS agent stopped a Chevrolet Silverado on Interstate 10 in the city of Marana, northwest of Tucson. According to a statement, the officer noted “numerous indicators of criminal activity” and searched the vehicle and found nearly 52 pounds of methamphetamine, 28 pounds of fentanyl pills, and nearly 2.5 pounds of fentanyl powder. The driver, identified as Carlos Calixtro-Varela, 27, and the passenger, Francisco Calixtro-Varela, 30, were arrested. Both were booked into the Pima County jail and face charges for possession, transportation and sale of narcotics and dangerous drugs.
The same day, another officer stopped a Jeep SUV on northbound I-17 near Cordes Lake. With the help of a canine agent, they detected about 36 pounds of fentanyl pills and 21.5 pounds of methamphetamine in the truck. The driver, Jose Espinoza-Gil, 32, and the passenger, Luciano Zamudio, 42, both of Phoenix, were arrested and booked into the Yavapai County Jail on charges of possession, transportation and sale of narcotics and dangerous drugs. .
On January 21, officers stopped a Mazda SUV on I-40 in Holbrook, Navajo County. Nearly 26 pounds of fentanyl pills were seized inside the truck’s spare tires. Officers arrested 28-year-old Jesus Hernandez-Hernandez who was booked into the Navajo County Jail for possession and transportation of narcotics for sale.