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The city of Maricopa is looking to join Operation Stoneguard to halt the flow of illegal drugs and stop human trafficking along State Route 347 and through the city of Maricopa.

“The 347 is one of the main corridors for drug and human trafficking, and we need to deter this type of activity,” said Maricopa Police Chief Kirk Fitch.

Operation Stoneguard is a federal program that distributes grant dollars to municipalities and county governments to provide funding to fight human smuggling and drug trafficking.

The city hopes to be approved for a non-match-required grant of $520,000 and receive those funds by October of this year. “To date, the city has taken little action in the fight on smuggling,” Fitch said. “This grant would allow us to join that fight.”

The grant would help to pay for mileage, cars and specialized equipment such as thermal goggles, night goggles and 800 MHz radios, Fitch said. He added that the money would also pay for 12 existing Maricopa officers to work overtime, training them on the popular routes smugglers are using in the Maricopa area and giving them the tools to help identify smugglers.

Currently Fitch said all of the other municipalities in Pinal County are participating in the program, and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is acting as the coordinator of the group. If Maricopa were to become part of the program, it would share in any money or items seized in busts.

“If we can prevent the flow of drugs and humans through Maricopa, we can reduce the likelihood of violence,” Fitch said.

The popularity of the Maricopa route for smugglers was evident three weeks ago at a checkpoint set up by a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Patrol on State Route 347 south of the casino. During the one-day operation, Fitch said the officers noticed many cars turning around when the saw the checkpoint and even arrested several suspects transporting several hundred pounds of marijuana.

Fitch said drug smuggling is only part of the problem. He said the department has gathered information leading him to believe there are both human smuggling and drug stash houses located in Maricopa. While the stash houses are reason for concern, Fitch added that when competing drug cartels find out about the location of other groups' stash houses, it can often lead to violence.

“The new presidential administration is now kicking in even more money to help secure the borders and battle smuggling,” Fitch said.

Submitted photo
 

• “The new presidential administration is now kicking in even more money to help secure the borders and battle smuggling,” Fitch said. Are you kidding? The Obama administration is cutting funding. All thanks to Crappy Nappy!!! (mpd85139accountable)
• Show me some proof that funding is being cut...Did you hear that on Fox news? (NukeGM)
• Typical response from one of the good ole boys, Crappy Nappy. (creed337)
• http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/02/01/20100201border-patrol-obama-cuts.html Hey NukeGM, you should try to keep up on the news!! (GuyPinestra)
• Day late and a peso short for MPD. The senior leadership is like a clown-car circus over there. (Carlos.Benito)
• Rumor has it Fitch is getting tired of Melvin and is trying to gain some kind of respect from the police department by doing this.Will see huh (8523crime)
• hummmm Why not hire people with experience in this area instead of paying overtime to officers who are not experienced and would have to be trained. As I see it or am I missing something. By the time we train them and pay overtime the money is gone. (1luckylady)
• With all due respect Mr. Fitch I think you should keep up with the news. In one of the many speeches President Obama said he is cutting funding to the boarder patrol. That was not FOX News It was pres own speech. I see you are right on top of things. lol (1luckylady)
• Probably get more accurate info from the news (even the onion) than what comes out of the mouth of the POTUS these days. LOL LOL LOL (ForcedFriction)
• To our Maricopa police force: Thanks for your work, I'm grateful for the protection you guys provide and I'm hoping you stay safe. It is dangerous to confront drug smugglers and human traffickers. Be careful. God bless. (Diana98751)
• Diana98751 - We have 55 GREAT officers in the Department that I would back 100%. Any comment that I make is toward the few that need to go. Mainly all of the command staff. Our city is very safe thanks to the hard work of the men and women we see on the streets day and night. Not, the incompetent command staff! (mpd85139accountable)