Posted on 02/09/2007 7:14:44 PM PST by SandRat
Investigators from the Counter Narcotics Alliance seized as much as 7,000 pounds of marijuana south of Downtown Thursday morning and arrested four people on drug charges, officials said.
Authorities estimated the wholesale value of the marijuana at $500 per pound, which means the bust could have a value of $3.5 million.
Members of the multi- agency Counter Narcotics Alliance raided Bearing-Belt & Chain Inc., 430 W. 22nd St., at about 8:30 a.m. and seized an estimated 5,000 pounds of marijuana, said Lt. Kelly J. Lane of the Tucson Police Department.
Earlier that day, around 6 a.m., police officers pulled over a black pickup truck with Sonoran license plates because the white trailer it was pulling had no lights, Lane said. The truck's driver and passenger appeared nervous, Lane said.
Officers said they found a firearm with its safety off and a magazine loaded with 40 rounds, along with marijuana debris on the floor of the truck.
When the officers searched the trailer, they found between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds of marijuana, Lane said. Further investigation and evidence at the scene led the police to the business on West 22nd Street.
The driver of the truck, 27-year-old Ronaldo Carrizoza Martinez of Sonora, Mexico, and the passenger, Tucsonan Luis Carlos Nido Chavez, 38, were arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale; transportation of marijuana for sale; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug violation.
A front-counter salesman of Bearing-Belt & Chain Inc., 37-year-old Leland Crockwell, was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale.
Saul Carrizoza Martinez, 31, of Cumpas, Sonora, was arrested on suspicion of drug possession as he left the business in a car, Lane said.
The business appeared to be a marijuana-distribution point, and the drugs probably wouldn't have stayed there long before being moved again, Lane said.
* Contact reporter Dale Quinn at 629-9412 or dquinn@azstarnet.com.
DRUGS RUNNERS FROM THE SOUTH
The driver of the truck, 27-year-old Ronaldo Carrizoza Martinez of Sonora, Mexico, and the passenger, Tucsonan Luis Carlos Nido Chavez, 38, were arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale; transportation of marijuana for sale; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug violation.
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Just another gift from Washington, DC.
Nah … all for personal use, no resale here.
Just doing the job yada, yada...
Where was Nate Newton?
Cowboys' Pride. YEEEEHAWWWWWWW!!!!!
If the Assault Weapons Ban were still in effect, this gun could have only held 10 rounds and we'd be a lot safer.
$500 per pound...
Anyone know of people smuggling in corn, cabbage, or parsley? What a beautiful profit the WOD has created for those willing to take a risk. Is it any wonder that so many people kill to protect drug turf? Don't forget all of the adicts who rob and murder to get this over priced crap. Ain't the WOD wonderful?
Love them yada jobs, LOL :)
Mistake, it must have been a cell phone. We all know that drug smugglers don't carry firearms according to Johnny Sutton. Sarc/
Sutton's friends preparing to go after more Border Patrol I assume....?
ROFL!
My sentiments exactly. And at the risk of being flamed by FReepers (or worse), this "War On Drugs" has gone absolutely nowhere. Accomplished absolutely nothing. Drugs are still as prevelant as they were in the 60's and 70's and perhaps even more so now, since the smugglers and producers and marketers are far more organized now than they ever have been in the past.
Hard drugs aside, there is no point in continuing the prohibition on the production, distribution, and use of Marijuana. I say: legalize it, allow legitimate marketing of it, then TAX the SMITHEREENS out of the distributors of the product!!! Just like is being done with tobacco and alcohol currently, and in some pervese twist, as formerly illegal gambling has now become a cash cow for the States (Lottery, Casinos, ect)
A Modest Proposal, perhaps ... but the current state of affairs ain't working out so well (a WOD 'quagmire'?), so why not just make the stuff legal and then government regulate and tax the s**t out of it!
Bummer, man!
People I know who still use this stuff and are well into their middle age, have, so far as I know, no trouble finding it and paying for it. At least, combine the Armies fighting the War On Poverty and the War On Drugs and save the taxpayers some money, that can be spent on better travel accomodations for the Speaker of the House!.
And there will always be people willing to take the risks.
those dang Amish....
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