Traffic stop becomes $2M drug bust
107 packages of meth, heroin found; Ariz. woman arrested
A routine traffic stop Wednesday by a deputy from the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office turned into a major drug bust after more than $2 million worth of narcotics was found in the vehicle.
At about 5:57 p.m, a 2007 Ford F-150 pickup truck was pulled over after the driver, a 27-yearold Arizona woman, turned off 16th Street and onto Interstate 8.
“During the course of the traffic stop, deputies requested the assistance of a canine and YCSO K-9 “Jax” arrived to assist,” Alfonso Zavala, YSCO spokesperson, said.
Members of the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force (YCNTF) also responded to the scene to assist with a search of the vehicle, which led to the discovery of numerous packages concealed within the vehicle’s doors.
In all, a total of 107 individual packages containing methamphetamine and one package holding heroin were found in the vehicle. The drugs, which had a combined weight of 112.9 pounds, had an estimated street value of $2,048,423.00.
The approximate weight of the package of heroin was 1.17 pounds with an estimated street value of $31,842.00.
The driver of the car was later identified as Sarah Rivas, of Bapchule, which is an unincorporated community in northern Pinal County, within the Gila River Indian Community, south of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
She was arrested and booked into the Yuma County Detention Center on suspicion of transportation of dangerous drugs, possession of a dangerous drug for sale, possession of a dangerous drug, transportation of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of a narcotic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.
There were four minor children in the vehicle with Rivas at the time, ranging from 5 to 9-years-old, who were all transferred to the care of Department of Child Services.
The YCNTF is a multi-agency task force comprised of deputies from the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Yuma Police Department, as well as agents from the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.
The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office would urges the public to call (928) 783-4427 to report any suspected drug activity or visit their website at www.yumacountysheriff.org to submit an anonymous tip.