Recently in Drug Crimes Category

Former NBA journeyman Samaki Walker got a break in his drug possession case when prosecutors modified charges against him on Friday, reports the Daily Miner.

Walker was originally arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and prescription drugs and destruction of evidence in Kingman, in July. Walker had spent 10 years in the NBA playing for teams in San Antonio, Los Angeles and Miami, but he has no known ties to Mohave County. It was not known at the time of his arrest why he was in the area.

You may have heard about pot brownies before, but you probably never heard about a pot watermelon.

Customs and Border Protection officers say they found 3,000 pounds of marijuana worth approximately $1.5 million in a shipment of watermelons on Monday, reports azfamily.com.

Authorities say a 44-year-old Mexican man driving a Volvo truck was trying to get the shipment into the United States through the Mariposa Commercial Port. Unfortunately for the man, the truck was subjected to an X-ray examination which noticed an anomaly in the shipment. After a more thorough inspection, officers discovered 128 bundles of a different kind of green plant.

Stripping must not be a lucrative business in Bullhead City. Several "Dream Girls" strippers and the manager of the club were arrested on suspicion of selling marijuana at the business, reports The Arizona Republic.

Bullhead City Police Department officers claim manager Mohammed Omar Mahfouz was selling marijuana from his vehicle that was parked outside of the club. During a search of the vehicle, authorities reportedly discovered marijuana, a digital scale and a handgun. He was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, sales of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and misconduct involving weapons, according to police.

Arizona authorities announced on Monday that they have made significant busts in one of the biggest drug smuggling rings in Arizona history, reports The Arizona Republic.

Authorities including officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department stated that they, along with the assistance of around two dozen law enforcement agencies, have seized more than 30 tons of marijuana and over 100 weapons and arrested 76 people thus far in the “massive” drug bust dubbed Operation Pipeline Express. The suspects are allegedly tied to the notorious Sinaloa Cartel from Mexico.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was given a four-count indictment on Monday by a federal grand jury on drug smuggling charges, reports the TucsonSentinel.com.

Border Patrol officer Luis Carlos Vasquez is accused of allowing five people to bring marijuana across the border while he manned the inspection line at the Douglas Port of Entry. His alleged accomplices include Douglas residents Victor Stuppi, Jesus Antonio Chavez Bustamante and Karla Beatriz Prieto. Two other accomplices are reportedly from Mexico.

Shooting suspect Juan Gabriel Ramirez is facing aggravated assault charges after he shot a family friend twice in the legs late Tuesday evening, reports azfamily.com.

The 29-year-old is already wanted for an outstanding felony warrant for a parole violation. The possible aggravated assault charges will add another violation to his already spotty record.

The crime of aggravated assault in Arizona is defined broadly, but often involves a person committing assault with the use of a deadly weapon or causes serious physical injury to another.

One of the werewolves from mega-hit Twilight has broken away from the pack in terms of breaking the law and is now licking his wounds in jail.

Twilight actor Kiowa Gordon, who plays Embry Call - a shape-shifting member of the Wolfpack, was taken into custody in Tempe after police discovered there were outstanding arrest warrants against him stemming from drug charges, reports Phoenix New Times.

Former NBA journeyman Samaki Walker is facing drug possession charges after being arrested near Kingman, reports the Associated Press.

Walker was released from the Mohave County Jail after being booked for destruction of evidence, possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and prescription drugs.

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, an officer pulled the 35-year-old over on Thursday for a routine traffic stop. The officer allegedly was able to detect the smell of marijuana wafting from his car, agency spokesman Captain Stephen Harrison said, which led to a search of Walker's vehicle.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio decided to conduct a year-long investigation that tracked drugs and money traveling through the state of Arizona. This lengthy investigation resulted in seven Phoenix-area arrests and the seizure of 1,000 pounds of marijuana, reports ABC News.

Some say that this case highlights the growing trend of drug trafficking across borders and the need to crack down on such crimes. Apparently, the investigation detailed involvement of foreign nationals from Jamaica, Nigeria, Ghana, and Mexico. The Phoenix suspects in this case were booked on charges of possession of marijuana, conspiracy to distribute and money laundering.

In addition to all the marijuana handed over to authorities, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office also seized weapons, over $1 million in cash, and 17 vehicles.

Thanks to the passage of Proposition 203, Arizonians can now apply for a medical marijuana card if they're able to get written certification from their physician. However, medical marijuana patients still have restrictions on how much marijuana they can possess and cultivate. They're also not immune from federal marijuana laws.

According to FindLaw, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (ARS §36-2801 - §36-2819) only allows for cardholders to have up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana at a time in their possession. Cardholders can also cultivate no more than 12 marijuana plants and all cultivation must be done within 25 miles of a licensed dispensary.