Arizona Traffic Stop Leads to Cocaine Seizure

On January 6, 2025, Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) troopers seized 553.8 pounds of cocaine from a Volvo tractor-trailer during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Holbrook. The drugs, concealed within a shipment of produce, were being smuggled from Salinas and Los Angeles to Canada, with an estimated street value of $16.6 million to $22.1 million. The driver, Amarjeet Singh Matharu, 31, was arrested and charged with possession and transportation of narcotic drugs for sale. This bust highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to dismantle drug trafficking operations and enhance community safety. In a related Utah case, a man was arrested for transporting $550,000 worth of methamphetamine and other drugs from Phoenix to Denver after a traffic stop revealed suspicious behavior and led to a K-9 sniff search. The Utah driver, Ashley Atwood, was found with multiple drugs and cash, further illustrating the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the region.