Pursuit on 347 leads to 451 pounds of marijuana

An apparently speeding vehicle led a Pinal County Sheriff’s deputy on a chase on State Route 347 Tuesday afternoon. In the end, the driver and passenger escaped but the abandoned vehicle was allegedly found to be carrying 451 pounds of marijuana.

The deputy spotted the 2002 GMC Yukon traveling at a high rate of speed south of Maricopa on SR 347 around 5:41 p.m. When he tried to pull over the vehicle, the driver did not stop and the pursuit was initiated.

After leaving the highway, the Yukon ran a stop sign and eventually stopped at the intersection of Dune Shadow Road and Hidden Valley Road. The driver and a passenger in the front seat ran west into the desert.

“As the deputy approached the vehicle to make sure it was clear, he observed several large bundles in the rear cargo area wrapped in camouflage material,” Sheriff Paul Babeu said. “The bundles contained 451 pounds of marijuana. The driver and passenger were not located.”

The vehicle and marijuana was seized and detectives will follow up on the case with the registered owner, according to PCSO.