Locals charged with selling marijuana across the U.S.
Three Yuma residents are behind bars after deputies said they were tied to shipping boxes of marijuana across the United States.
Friday at approximately 6:38 a.m., the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force (YCNTF) served a narcotics search warrant at a home in the 2000 block of S. 7th Ave.
With the assistance of YCSO K-9 “Jax”, the search led to the discovery of approximately 12.32 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $167,707.00; 3.55 pounds of marijuana edibles with an estimated street value of $32,168.00; 28.8 grams of THC wax with an estimated street value of $1,440.00; 46 grams of THC oil with an estimated street value of $2,300.00; and additional drug paraphernalia items consistent with narcotic sales. A loaded shotgun was also discovered.
During the investigation, it was learned the suspect of the search warrant, Adrian Humberto Alvarez, 21, of Yuma, Ariz., had been shipping boxes of bulk marijuana and THC oils and waxes to other states within the US. YCNTF was alerted to the shipments and additional investigation culminated into the search warrant of Alvarez’s residence.
Jose Ignacio Ramirez Jr, 20, of Yuma, Ariz., was identified as a participant in shipping the bulk marijuana and THC oils and waxes. Ramirez was found to have shipped at least one package containing approximately 2.36 pounds of marijuana with an approximate street value of $32,100.00 along with THC wax and oils at a local shipping facility.
Jasmine Navarro, 22, of Yuma, Ariz., was identified as a co-conspirator involved in the transportation and sales of the marijuana.
Alvarez, Ramirez, and Navarro all reside at the same residence that is located within close proximity of two local schools. The residence was within the drug free school zone, with bus stops near the residence.
Alvarez and Navarro were arrested and booked into the Yuma County Detention Center for possession of a narcotic drug for sale, transportation of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of marijuana for sale, transportation of marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of narcotics in a drug free school zone, possession of a weapon during a drug offense, and child abuse.
Ramirez was arrested and booked into the Yuma County Detention Center for possession of a narcotic drug for sale, transportation of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of marijuana for sale, transportation of marijuana, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
YCNTF is a multi-agency task force comprised of officers and agents from the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, the Yuma Police Department, the Somerton Police Department, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations–along with additional Sheriff’s Office Deputies, HSI Agents, and the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force (RATTLER).
The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public to call (928) 783-4427 to report any suspected drug activity.
