22 arrested in pot crackdown

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Pinal County Sheriff’s Office deputies and U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted an operation in the Hidden Valley area concentrating on combating the flow of drugs through Pinal County.

The operation resulted in 22 arrests and seizure of 347 pounds of marijuana.

PCSO deputies attempted to stop a vehicle traveling east on State Route 238 entering Maricopa on Jan. 23. The vehicle failed to yield and led deputies on a short, high-speed pursuit before being stopped. Four people were arrested, and deputies seized approximately 147 pounds of marijuana.

On Jan. 26, deputies conducted three, mid-day traffic stops in the Maricopa area, resulting in the apprehension of 20 suspects within one hour. Inside two of the vehicles, deputies located bulk marijuana totaling approximately 57 pounds. Twelve occupants from the two vehicles, which alleged carried marijuana, were booked into the Pinal County Sheriff’s Jail. The third vehicle’s occupants were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol agents.