Agents seize over $5M in drugs during traffic stops
K-9 “Jax” assists in discovery of items
The Yuma County Sheriff Office’s K-9 “Jax” has assisted in two separate traffic stops in the past couple of months that have resulted in the discovery of more than $5 million in illegal drugs, including the most recent incident last Thursday in the area of Avenue B and 24th street.
According to information provided by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in that July 18 recent incident, Yuma special agents arrested Alejandro EscobarRivera, 51, and seized more than 221 pounds of methamphetamine and 5 pounds of cocaine, which had a combined approximate street value of nearly $4.1 million.
Multiple cell phones were also seized in what was a targeted enforcement action led by HSI agents.
The incident began when sheriff deputies observed a speeding vehicle that was traveling northbound on Avenue B approaching 24th Street and conducted a traffic stop on it. Deputies also later requested the assistance of YCSO K-9 “Jax”
“Escobar-Rivera was contacted during a traffic stop for a speeding violation,” said Alfonso Zavala, a spokesperson for the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office. “During the course of the traffic stop a deputy requested a canine and it alerted to the vehicle.”
Based on the quantity of seized drugs and the arrest, HSI Yuma was contacted and special agents from
that agency began an investigation into the incident.
During the course of the investigation, HSI special agents discovered that Escobar-Rivera was delivering furniture on behalf of Alex Furniture, which is located at 313 W. Main St. in Somerton.
Further investigation conducted by HSI Yuma special agents, with the assistance of members of the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force (YCNTF), resulted in the additional arrest of one Alex Furniture employee on immigration violations and the seizure of numerous cell phones.
Escobar-Rivera was arrested and booked into the Yuma County jail, where he remains in custody on
a $200,000 cash-only bond. He has been charged with transportation of dangerous drugs for sale, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and transportation of narcotic drugs for sale, all of which are felonies.
HSI special agents were also assisted by officers with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations assigned to the HSI Border Enforcement Security Task Force, as well as the Somerton Police Department.
Since June 2, YCSO K-9 “Jax” has helped take a combined weight of more than 748 pounds of methamphetamine and 5 pounds of cocaine off of the streets of Yuma County.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.