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Release [printer-friendly
version] Traffic Stop Yields Over 67 Kilos of Cocaine JUL 20 -- Tucson - Douglas W. Hebert, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Phoenix Field Division joined Roger Vanderpool, Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) to announce the seizure of over 67 kilograms of cocaine. One individual was arrested. “Transporting cocaine by car, van, tractor trailer or on foot leads to only one destination, prison,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Douglas W. Hebert. “We will not allow traffickers to turn our interstates into cocaine highways. For the communities who would have been offered this powerfully addictive drug, the impact of this seizure is enormous.” DPS Director Roger Vanderpool stated, “Emphasis on this traffic stop is another outstanding example of DPS' determination to deny the bad guys the usage of the public highways of the State of Arizona, and to fulfill Governor Janet Napolitano's initiative of securing Arizona from smuggling activity. Our Officers are seizing record amounts of narcotics, currency, weapons, and illegal aliens each and every day.” On July 19, 2007, at around 10:34 A.M., an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Canine Officer made a traffic stop on a Oldsmobile SUV, on Interstate 10 westbound, milepost 235, near the town of Marana. The SUV was traveling too slow and impeding traffic which alerted the DPS Officer to make the traffic stop. During the questioning of the driver, the officer received inconsistent answers to questions and other responses from the driver which were indicative of illegal activity. The DPS Officer deployed his K-9, who alerted to the rear quarter panel and interior of the SUV. A check of rear quarter panel and under the seats, revealed a total of 67.5 kilos of cocaine (approximately 148 pounds). DEA Special Agents arrived to assist with the investigation of the contraband found during the traffic stop. The driver, identified as Jorge Luis Nieblas-Cordova, 29 years-of-age, from Nogales, Sonora, and the vehicle were turned over to DEA for further investigation. Nieblas-Cordova will be arraigned in federal court on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
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