Arizona agencies seize thousands of fentanyl pills during several drug busts

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Law enforcement agencies across the state are working to keep drugs off the streets and combat the fentanyl crisis.

On Tuesday, Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers pulled over a semi-truck driver on I-10 near Eloy for a traffic violation. During the stop, DPS says troopers and U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents discovered the driver was heading to Phoenix with over 200 pounds of fentanyl hidden in duffel bags inside his truck. He was arrested on felony drug-related charges. Troopers say the drugs were valued at over a million dollars. Just five days before, troopers busted two different drivers who were hauling a total of 148 pounds of fentanyl in Wellton and Tucson.

Then, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office announced half a million fentanyl pills were seized during an investigation between that office, the Tempe Police Department and the Phoenix Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) last week. Special agents found the pills, along with $66,000 in cash.

“This operation is a significant step forward in our ongoing fight against criminal drug distribution in our state,” Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement. “The collaboration between my office and our local and federal law enforcement partners has been vital to our efforts at keeping this deadly drug off our streets. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute these crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”

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