2 El Mirage teens caught with drugs, 10 AK-47s

Reported by: Katrina Wessman
Email: kwessman@abc15.com
Reported by: Christopher Sign
Last Update: 9/10/2008 11:55 am

Traffic stop leads to large gun, drug seizure in El Mirage

Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the story

EL MIRAGE, AZ -- A traffic stop in the West Valley led officers to a cache of assault rifles, drugs and cash Monday.

Department of Public Safety officers, Metro West highway patrol officers, and El Mirage Police officers said they seized a large amount of marijuana, 10 AK-47 assault rifles, hundreds of dollars of cash, and 17 bayonets during the stop

Police said Daniel Saldana and Juan Espinoza, both 19, were taken into custody.

According to investigators, the teens told police they would use the weapons to intimidate others during drug deals.

Officials said they are concerned with this case because of the types of weapons that were found.

"These guns are especially concerning because they're not used for hunting or target practice," said DPS Sergeant Tim Mason. "It's alarming because your family and my family could conceivably be driving next to these people who are armed with heavy firepower."

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, along with El Mirage detectives, are involved in the investigation.

Officials are trying to find out where the guns originally came from or if they were stolen.

According to Mason, investigators are also trying to determine if the suspects are tied to gang activity.

More arrests could be made in the ongoing investigation.

Stay with ABC15.com for updates.