Michael Mugavero, a 20-year-old community college student, was arrested on Thursday night at a westside Tucson apartment complex on three felony counts related to illegal drug distribution.
Michael Mugavero of Tucson, is suspected of using social media including posting videos to advertise the sale of drugs, which he had illegally imported from Canada through an international mail parcel. In addition to the arrest, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and Arizona’s HIDTA Counter Narcotics Alliance (CNA) detectives seized approximately 7,000 Xanax pills, with a street value of more than $100,000.
The investigation began earlier this month when Customs and Border Protection at the New York and Canadian border contacted HSI special agents in Tucson after seizing two separate parcels containing Xanax pills earmarked to the defendant. Soon after being notified of the parcels, HSI in corporation with CNA and the United States Postal Inspector Service (USPIS) initiated an investigation into this organization which resulted in the execution of a state search warrant and the arrest of Mugavero.
Agents also seized several electronic devices he used to market and advertise the pills for sale.
The Pima County Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.