On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper stopped the driver of a Toyota RAV4 for moving violations on eastbound Interstate 8 near milepost 21, in Wellton. During the traffic stop, the trooper observed indicators of criminal activity. While conducting a search of the vehicle, the trooper located approximately 11.9 pounds of suspected fentanyl pills.

The driver and sole occupant, 28-year-old Laura Yancel Robles, of Phoenix, was booked into the Yuma County Jail on charges including conspiracy, participating in an illegal enterprise, transportation of a narcotic drug, and possession of a narcotic drug for sale.

Later that day, AZDPS Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM) detectives served a related search warrant on the residence of Carlos Ramirez-Gutierrez, 29, in San Luis, AZ. Detectives seized the following items from the residence:

• Approximately 2.1 pounds of methamphetamine
• Approximately 1.18 pounds of fentanyl pills
• Approximately 2.08 pounds of fentanyl powder
• Approximately 1.18 pounds of unknown powder
• 2 high-capacity rifles
• 6 handguns
• 2 firearm suppressors
• Magazines
• Ammunition
• 1 BB replica rifle
• Two vehicles
• $2,436 in U.S. currency 

Ramirez-Gutierrez was arrested and booked into the Yuma County Jail on charges including:

• Possession of a narcotic drug for sale
• Possession of a dangerous drug for sale
• Transportation of a narcotic drug
• Money laundering
• Misconduct with weapons in a drug offense
• Misconduct with weapons by a prohibited possessor
• Conspiracy
• Participating in an illegal enterprise 

The San Luis Police Department, Yuma Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration assisted AZDPS with this investigation.

On Tuesday, July 26, 2022, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper initiated a traffic stop on the driver of a white Ford F-150 pickup truck on eastbound Interstate 40, at milepost 203, east of Flagstaff. During the traffic stop, the trooper observed multiple indicators of criminal activity. A subsequent search of the truck led to the discovery of approximately 24 pounds of fentanyl pills and 2.5 pounds of compressed fentanyl powder.

The suspect driver, 53-year-old Celso Sanchez-Chavarria of Denver, Colorado, was arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail on charges including possession, transportation, and sale of narcotic drugs.

Investigators determined the fentanyl was picked up in the Phoenix area and was intended for delivery in the Denver area.

On Monday, August 1, 2022, Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) Vehicle Theft Task Force (VTTF) detectives served two residential search warrants and arrested one suspect in Phoenix following a month-long vehicle theft investigation.

The suspect, Brandon A. Jones, 37, was arrested after VTTF detectives observed him operating and transporting multiple stolen vehicles and a trailer between his residence and a family member’s property.

During service of the warrants in the 1800 block of East Jones Avenue and the 1600 block of East Saint Anne Avenue, VTTF detectives recovered the following vehicles:

• 2007 Chevrolet pickup truck (reported stolen in Arkansas)
• 2003 Tahoe Z71 SUV (reported stolen in Arkansas)
• 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer (reported stolen in Arkansas)
• 2003 GMC Yukon (reported stolen in Mesa)
• Motor from a 2004 GMC Sierra (reported stolen in Mesa)
• 2017 flatbed trailer with a 2006 Toyota forklift (both reported stolen in Phoenix)

 Jones was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on charges including theft of means of transportation (5 counts) and theft of controlled property (1 count).

On Wednesday, August 10, 2022, Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) detectives arrested one suspect and seized 35.7 pounds of fentanyl pills near State Route 101 and Chandler Boulevard, in Chandler, following a drug trafficking investigation.

The suspect, 30-year-old Braulio de Diego, of Mesa, was arrested and booked into the Maricopa County Jail on charges including possession of a narcotic drug and possession of a narcotic drug for sale. Detectives located 35.7 pounds of fentanyl – approximately 150,000 pills – in his vehicle. The street value of the pills is estimated at over $525,000.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations assisted AZDPS with this investigation.

On Monday, August 15, 2022, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper initiated a traffic stop on the driver of a 2012 Audi SUV on northbound Interstate 17, at milepost 264, north of Cordes Junction. During the traffic stop, the trooper observed multiple indicators of criminal activity. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of approximately 162 pounds of methamphetamine.

The suspect driver, 36-year-old Sergio Rosas of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was arrested and booked into the Yavapai County Jail on charges including possession, transportation, and sale of a dangerous drug.

On Wednesday, August 24, 2022, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper initiated a traffic stop on the driver of a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta sedan for moving violations on westbound Interstate 10 at milepost 226, near Red Rock. During the traffic stop, the trooper observed multiple indicators of criminal activity. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of approximately 46 pounds of suspected fentanyl pills concealed in natural compartments within the vehicle.

The suspect driver, 20-year-old Izayah D. Ocasio, of Phoenix, was arrested and booked into the Pinal County Jail on charges including possession, transportation, and sale of narcotic drugs.

The drugs were being smuggled from Nogales, Mexico, to the Phoenix area.