Deputies seize 1,500 pounds of pot

A late-night pursuit through the desert resulted in a 1,500 pound pot bust south of Maricopa Monday night.

The pursuit began around 9 p.m. on Jan. 17 when a Pinal County sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull over a white 1980’s suburban for traveling against traffic on Interstate 8 about 20 miles from Maricopa, according to Pinal County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tim Gaffney.

The driver of the vehicle refused to stop and led the deputy on a high-speed chase across the interstate and off road into the desert.

The deputy pursued the vehicle until the driver lost control and the vehicle became stuck in a ditch, at which point three men fled from the truck.

When the deputy searched the Suburban, he discovered 1,500 pound of marijuana with an estimated street value of $750,000.

A search of the area was conducted by deputies, but the three suspects were not located.