TUCSON — The Catalina Foothills isn’t a part of Tucson that people often associate with large amounts of drugs, yet not only was the Foothills the site of a recent drug bust, but that bust was the largest in the state of Arizona thus far this year.

According to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 7,200 pounds of marijuana were seized from a house near River and Alvernon. Agents had been watching the house for several days. During one of those days a GMC Yukon was observed towing an 18-foot trailer onto the property. Two suspects then ran from the vehicle into the nearby desert. Both ICE agents as well as the Pima County Sheriffs canine unites searched for the men but they were unable to find them.

In the trailer ICE agents found 5,500 pounds of marijuana. A search of the house uncovered an additional 1,700 pounds. There agents also found what ICE described as a “sophisticated repacking system.” ICE says this suggests that house played host to a major smuggling operation.

ICE says the house was owned by a local business man, but it was being rented to a Mexican citizen through a property management company.



For the complete article see the 07-06-2010 issue.