early morning trafficPhilA stopover in Payson last week led to the seizure of about $3 million worth of drugs and the arrest of two people by the Gila County Sheriff’s Office.

At approximately 3:20 am on February 23, agents pulled up a black Jeep Grand Cherokee on Main Street and Highway 87. Their search found about 35 pounds of blue pills suspected to be fentanyl, a white powder suspected to be cocaine and a small amount of crystalline material suspected to be methamphetamine, and a firearm.

Two men, identified as Juan José Jaro Aranda, 23, and Carlos Higuera Rivera, 27, were arrested and held at Gila County Jail.

Both men were booked for possession of drugs, possession of drugs for sale, transportation of drugs, possession of dangerous drugs, and possession of drug-related paraphernalia. Additionally, Rivera was booked for possessing a firearm in a drug offense consignment.

“The two legislators who directed this trafficPhilc stop did wondersEnal work; they used their experience and training to identify the signs of crime that led to the removal of these drugs from streets and communities. Shepard also thanked the Gila County Drug, Gang and Violent Crime Commission, the Payson Police Department, and Tonto his Apache Police Department for their cooperation in stopping traffic.

“With the help of all our local partners, we were able to seize approximately $3 million worth of illegal drugs this morning,” he said.