MCSO arrests 17 in nationwide drug, cash bust

PHOENIX - After a year-long investigation with the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office arrested 17 people in what sheriff's deputies have dubbed "Operation Special Delivery".

DEA agents said as much as 10,000 pounds of marijuana may have been shipped out of the metropolitan Phoenix area across the country to areas as far as New York via UPS and FedEx shipping companies.

"It's been a long, hard investigation," said Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

According to a sheriff's office news release, search warrants were served in the Phoenix area, Pinal County, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis and Los Angeles.

There were a total of 22 arrests, 17 of them here in the Valley, including two UPS workers, after agents executed 13 search warrants nationwide Wednesday.

DEA agent Doug Coleman said the arrests took out an entire drug ring.

"The way that you make an impact against these drug trafficking organizations...is to take out the entire organization from the sources in Mexico to the end users back on the East Coast."

During the course of the investigation, the sheriff's office reportedly seized weapons including a stolen .50 caliber handgun, 1,000 pounds of marijuana, over $1 million in cash and 17 vehicles.

Those arrested have been booked on charges of possession of marijuana, conspiracy to distribute and money laundering.

Arpaio stated the case focused on the sources of drugs from Mexico through dealers in Arizona to the final destination points throughout the U.S.

The investigation detailed involvement of foreign nationals from Jamaica, Nigeria, Ghana, and Mexico, some of whom are in the country illegally, Arpaio said.

"Our investigation displayed a growing trend of drug trafficking, it is easier for these criminal syndicates to bring drugs in from our southern border and ship them across the United States to the East Coast than to get them directly from Jamaica," stated Arpaio.

In a statement from UPS, officials confirmed assisting MCSO with the investigation and said that two employees had been arrested before arriving at work.

Coleman said neither UPS nor Fed Ex will face charges since it was unknown to both companies what was happening. "They can't always control what employees are doing that work for them."

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office also took part in the investigation.

Coleman said the investigation could still net more arrests.