Advanced SearchJewelry worth about $100,000, including four Rolex watches, was seized Tuesday, June 5, at a ranch near the Nogales International Airport when drug agents discovered 5,000 pounds of marijuana and arrested two suspects.
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He said that after obtaining a search warrant from Justice Court Precinct No. 2, officers also seized $73,000 in cahs, two bullet-proof vests, a safe, six semi-tractors, one trailer, four horse trailers, two all-terrain vehicles, a Nissan four-door pick-up with Mexico plates, a 2006 Ford Dually pick-up truck, a 1987 Chevrolet Suburban and a 2007 Ford F-250 King Ranch crew-cab pick-up.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the safe had not been opened, Castillo said.
He noted that this is the largest load seized by the agency since it netted about 7,000 pounds of marijuana in the North River Road area about two years ago and arrested four suspects.
Sheriff Capt. Ruben F. Fuentes gave the following account of Tuesday's bust:
At about 5:30 p.m., agents noticed a Chevrolet Suburban in the Kino Springs area east of Nogales. "It looked like it was weighed down and loaded."
The agents followed the Suburban to the Elias Ranch where the roping arena is located.
Officers apprehended the owner of the ranch, Heriberto Elias-Aguirre, 51. He was charged with possession of marijuana for sale and conspiracy. Jesus Artalejo, 55, who attempted to flee the scene and later told officers he is a truck driver for Elias, also was apprehended. He was charged with possession of marijuana for sale.
Castillo noted that a woman identified as Elias' wife was at the home, but was not arrested. The operation had agents out at the ranch for several hours with some clocking out after 5 a.m.
As of Monday, June 11, Elias has posted bail and nothing of value was found in the safe, said Santa Cruz County Sheriff Antonio Estrada.
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