Jose Manuel Arellano-Noriega, 37, a Mexican national living in Phoenix, has been charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced today.
Arellano-Noriega was stopped by investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Phoenix East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force on a routine traffic violation. Officers observed him driving 55 mph in a 45-mph zone near 43rd Avenue and McDowell Road. Upon stopping the vehicle, investigators identified Arellano-Noriega using his Mexican passport.
A police canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, prompting a search that led to the discovery of a black semi-automatic 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine. Arellano-Noriega admitted to ownership of the firearm and further disclosed that he had large quantities of fentanyl pills and powder at his apartment.
After consenting to a search of his residence, Arellano-Noriega guided authorities to the location of the drugs. Investigators seized seven bricks of white powdery substance weighing over 7,800 grams, which field-tested positive for fentanyl. Additionally, approximately 100,000 blue pills, weighing a total of 12,146 grams, also tested positive for fentanyl.
Arellano-Noriega now faces serious federal charges related to drug trafficking, with the significant quantities of fentanyl involved raising concerns over public safety. A criminal complaint is a formal charge, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
