Pubdate: Thu, 21 Mar 2002
Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ)
Copyright: 2002 Pulitzer Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23
Author: Tim Steller

NARCOTICS INVESTIGATORS REEL IN $1M-PLUS IN 2 SEIZURES

A multistate narcotics investigation led to the seizure last Thursday of 
more than $1 million from a location on the Southwest Side, according to a 
complaint filed in Pima County Superior Court.

Investigators also seized $7,000 from a pickup truck as part of the 
investigation, the complaint states. The seizures were made by the Arizona 
Department of Public Safety.

Investigators declined to give details of the case, saying that the Tucson 
action was just a branch of a broader investigation that has not concluded.

"The forfeiture occurred here in Arizona, but the matter is being handled 
in another jurisdiction," said Pati Urias, spokeswoman for the Arizona 
Attorney General's Office, which filed the complaint requesting seizure of 
the money.

The location of the large seizure - $1,175,319 - was in the 3200 block of 
West Via San Teresa, which is in the county south of West Valencia Road and 
west of South Mission Road.

Urias did not say whether the address is a home or business. Authorities 
seized the smaller amount during a traffic stop the same day at East 
Speedway and North Longfellow Avenue.

Investigators frequently make large cash seizures as part of drug 
investigations.

Most drug money that flows through Tucson goes to Mexico to pay for drugs 
sold in the United States, drug investigators say. But a cut often stays in 
Southern Arizona, with the person responsible for sending the drug loads 
from this area to retail markets across the United States.

In December, the Arizona Daily Star estimated the Tucson area's take from 
the international marijuana trade at around $350 million in 2000.
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MAP posted-by: Beth