Three arrested for transportation, possession of marijuana for sale
One suspects has been deported multiple times prior
Web Producer: Mekita Rivas
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - On Monday, Nov. 12, a concerned citizen reported seeing what he believed to be marijuana loaded into a vehicle just south of Casa Grande.
As deputies headed to the area, the citizen reported that the vehicle had left the area along with two Hispanic males. Deputies spread out and watched the roadways and highways for the vehicle which was described as a red Buick sedan.
A deputy then located a vehicle matching the description traveling eastbound on Interstate-8.
The vehicle was also observed speeding at 85 mph in the 75 mph zone. A check of the vehicles registration and later license status check of the registered owner showed the owner did not have a valid driver's license.
Eventually, deputies found 10 packaged bundles of marijuana inside of the vehicle. The marijuana weighed a total of 270.30 pounds with a street value of $202,725.
In a news release, Pinal County Sheriff's office spokesperson Tim Gaffney said the three suspects were identified as Mario A. Cazares-Cazares (driver, age 43 of Mexico), Francisco G. Ortega-Pinto (front seat passenger, age 23 of Mexico) and Obeth R. Aldaco-Pinuelos (rear seat passenger, age 19 of Mexico).
Obeth had given an original date of birth to deputies that would have made him a juvenile. With the help of the U.S. Border Patrol, he was identified as an adult who had been detained and deported five prior times by the U.S. Border Patrol in the past two years.
All three suspects admitted to being in the United States illegally. All three suspects were booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Facility for possession of marijuana for sale and transportation of marijuana.
All are being held on a "No Bond Status." The vehicle was seized and paperwork will be submitted requesting it be forfeited.
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