BUCKEYE – This month, Buckeye Police seized nearly 15,000 fentanyl pills.
“The fact that thousands of fentanyl pills, a powerful opioid, were intercepted by our officers could mean the difference between life and death for one of our citizens,” said Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall. “Every one of these seizure matters and I continue to be proud of the work our officers do every day to safeguard this community.”
According to Buckeye Police, on January 11, Buckeye Police officers stopped a car in the area of MC 85 and Baseline Road for a traffic violation. The driver, Alexis Arroyo Zamora, 20, failed to produce identification or any other required documentation. Zamora also admitted to having a concealed handgun in the car on the driver’s side floorboard, which is illegal for someone under 21-years-old.
Officers secured the handgun and placed Zamora under arrest. In the vehicle, officers found approximately 2,760 fentanyl pills, more than $7000 in cash and several cell phones. Zamora was also carrying methamphetamine in one of his pockets.
Zamora admitted the drugs were his and the money a result of selling fentanyl pills at different locations around the city. Zamora was booked on a number of charges, including trafficking narcotics, possession of narcotics for sale, possession of dangerous drugs and misconduct involving weapons.
The second seizure took place on Monday, January 20, 2020 just before 6 o’clock at night. A Buckeye police officer pulled over a vehicle near Southern Avenue and SR 85 for traffic violations.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Maximiliano Rodriguez, 30. During the traffic stop a large quantity of fentanyl “M30” pills were located underneath the rear passenger seat. Rodriguez was placed under arrest and his vehicle impounded.
Buckeye police detectives determined there were approximately 12,150 pills, worth more than $120,000 on the streets.
Rodriguez admitted to having gone to Sonora, Mexico to visit family. He said while there, he was offered money to transport the pills to Phoenix.
Rodriguez was booked into the Maricopa County 4th Avenue Jail for transportation of narcotics for sale, a class 2 felony.