Pinal County Sheriff: Mexican drug cartels now control parts of Arizona
Pinal County investigators say an area known as the smuggling corridor now stretches from Mexico’s border to metro Phoenix. The area , once an area for family hiking and off road vehicles has government signs warning residents of the drug and human smugglers.
By: MaryEllen Resendez at abc15.com
CASA GRANDE, AZ – Two men shot earlier this week could be the result of the ongoing battle between Mexican drug cartels now spilling over deep into Arizona, officials say.
Pinal County investigators say an area known as the smuggling corridor now stretches from Mexico’s border to metro Phoenix.
The area , once an area for family hiking and off road vehicles has government signs warning residents of the drug and human smugglers.
Night vision cameras have photographed military armed cartel members delivering drugs to vehicles along Highway 8.
“We are three counties deep. How is it that you see pictures like these, not American with semi and fully automatic rifles. How is that okay?” asked Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.
Babeu said he no longer has control over parts of his county.
“We are outgunned, we are out manned and we don’t have the resources here locally to fight this,” he said at a Friday news conference.
Five weeks ago Deputy Louie Puroll was ambushed and shot as he tracked six drug smugglers.
Sheriff Babeu said the ambush mirrored military tactics.
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