On the morning of Wednesday, January 18, 2023, Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) troopers accused a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck of a vehicle for a traffic violation on westbound Interstate 10 at Milepost 239 near Marana. Initiated a traffic stop to the driver.

During the traffic stop, troopers observed many signs of criminal activity. During a search of the vehicle, troopers found approximately 51.95 pounds of methamphetamine, 28.10 pounds of fentanyl pills, and her 2.45 pounds of fentanyl powder.

The suspect’s driver, 27-year-old Carlos Calixtro-Varela, and his passenger, 30-year-old Francisco Calixtro-Varela, both Tucson residents, were arrested on charges including possession, transportation, and sale and charged to Pima County. imprisoned in prison. narcotics or dangerous drugs.

Investigators determined that drugs were being smuggled from Tucson to Marana.

Later that day, another officer stopped the driver of a Jeep SUV on Interstate 17 northbound at Milepost 263 near Cordes Junction. Signs of criminal activity were observed during the stop and drug-sniffing dogs alerted the vehicle. During the subsequent vehicle search, the trooper found approximately 36 pounds of fentanyl on his pill and he had 21.5 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside the vehicle.

The suspect’s driver, 32-year-old Jose Espinoza-Gil, and his passenger, 42-year-old Luciano Zamudio, both from Phoenix, were arrested on charges including drug possession, transport and sale and were jailed in Yavapai County Jail. was imprisoned in and dangerous drugs.

The fentanyl and methamphetamine in this case had been smuggled into Denver, Colorado from the Phoenix area.