The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Air Unit on Wednesday assisted federal authorities with locating a stolen truck with more than 1,700 pounds of marijuana in Vekol Valley, a rural area south of Maricopa.
At approximately 3p.m., agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations, who were actively tracking multiple drug loads heading north from the Tohono O’odham reservation into Pinal County, requested air support from PCSO.
The PCSO helicopter launched from Casa Grande municipal airport and responded to the Vekol Valley area.
Two large dust trails consistent with vehicle traffic could be seen six miles south of Interstate 8 near Freeman Road. The crew followed one of the trails heading northbound and turned over information to Border Patrol regarding the second dust trail.
During an air search of the area, the men identified a pickup truck hidden in thick brush and partially covered by a green tarp. Two sets of human tracks could be seen leading away from the vehicle.
![A blue square highlights the area of the proposed affordable housing development and "Restaurant Row" sitting south of city hall and the Maricopa Police Department. Preliminary architectural drawings were not yet available. [City of Maricopa]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/041724-affordable-housing-project-restaurant-row-100x70.jpg "Affordable apartments planned near ‘Restaurant Row’")
