DPS seizes nearly $2 million in drug money last month

April 2, 2008 - 10:58PM

FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Arizona Department of Public Safety seized more than $1.8 million statewide in drug money last month, according to figures it released Wednesday.

According to the news release, all the seized money was in U.S. currency and the result of several traffic stops by DPS officers and criminal investigators.

The largest single seizure was on March 6 when a DPS officer from the commercial vehicle enforcement bureau stopped a commercial truck south of Interstate 10 in Phoenix.

DPS officers found $553,950 concealed in the back wall of the sleeper berth.

"Considering we seized almost 23,000 pounds of marijuana last month, it doesn’t surprise me that we also took almost $2 million in drug cash off the highways," said Roger Vanderpool, DPS director. "There can’t be a more vivid picture of what we’re up against in the day-to-day battle against the illegal drug trade."