JANUARY 22, 2014
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Detectives seize 20 pound haul of methamphetamine
PHOENIX – Sheriff Joe Arpaio says two suspects have been arrested and 20 pounds of methamphetamine were seized following an investigation by narcotic detectives in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
Juan Carlos Soto-Neris, 26 (DOB 10/1/87) and Jorge Cecilio Bernal-Araujo, 43 (DOB 4/28/70), were arrested on January 14, 2013 by Sheriff’s deputies in an area near West Encanto Blvd and 83rd Avenue in Phoenix. Soto-Neris was the driver of a vehicle transporting two large bags of a white substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. K-9 units from the Sheriff’s Office were on hand to assist in the arrest.
“Over 26 pounds of meth have been seized by my detectives in the last five days. We also made several arrests in a marijuana dispensary case late last week,” says Sheriff Arpaio. “These arrests and seizures are leading up to an impending crackdown by this office against street level drug dealers and users.”
Both suspects were booked into 4th Avenue Jail on the following charges: Possession of Dangerous Drugs, a Class 4 Felony, Possession of Dangerous Drugs For Sale, a Class 2 Felony, and Transport for Sale a Dangerous Drug, a Class 2 Felony. ICE officials have placed holds on the two suspects.
Sheriff’s detectives suspect the drugs were brought in from Mexico.
The only identification documents which both suspects had in their possession at the time of their arrests were apparently issued from Mexico.
