What started as a routine traffic stop ended up in a big drug bust in Casa Grande over the week.
On Saturday, an Arizona Highway Patrol trooper made a traffic stop on a white Chevrolet Tahoe on Interstate 10 near Sunland Gin Road for an equipment violation, according to the Department of Public Safety.
During the stop, the trooper noticed suspicious behavior and called for backup, which included a canine unit.
After the driver gave consent, a drug detection dog sniffed the vehicle, which revealed approximately 40.5 pounds of cocaine hidden in a compartment in the vehicle’s center console. DPS said.
As a result, 38-year-old Francisco Javier Mascarenas of Rio Rico was arrested. He faces charges of transportation of narcotic drugs for sale and possession of narcotic drugs for sale.
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https://www.kold.com/2026/01/23/40-pounds-cocaine-seized-casa-grande-traffic-stop/
