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An Oct. 12 traffic stop by the Gila County Drug, Gang and Violent Crimes Task Force led to the seizure of 13 pounds of fentanyl pills and two arrests.
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An Oct. 12 traffic stop by the Gila County Drug, Gang and Violent Crimes Task Force led to the seizure of 13 pounds of fentanyl pills and two arrests.
On Tuesday, October 12 two suspects were arrested and booked into the Gila County Jail in Payson following a traffic stop that uncovered 13 pounds of fentanyl pills.
At 12:42 that afternoon, according to a Gila County Sheriff’s Office press release, the Gila County Drug, Gang and Violent Crimes Task Force stopped a vehicle at the Tonto Apache Tribal Market for a civil traffic violation. Indicators of criminal activity were observed, and a drug investigation was conducted in collaboration with the Tonto Apache Police Department.
Obtaining the driver’s consent to search the vehicle, detectives found approximately 13.25 pounds of fentanyl pills with an estimated street value of $1.2 million.
The suspects were identified as Irvin Montano-Valenzuela, 24, of Mexico, and Jesus Valenzuela Tapia, 37, also of Mexico. Both were arrested and booked for possession of a narcotic drug for sale, transportation of a narcotic drug for sale and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sheriff J. Adam Shepherd thanked the Tonto Apache Police Department for their collaborative effort in the investigation, as well as the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission for their continued funding of the Gila County Drug, Gang and Violent Crimes Task Force.
