Over 35 pounds of fentanyl seized following HSI Tucson, multiagency investigation

PHOENIX – Last week, a Mesa area man was arrested and booked into Maricopa County Jail on multiple drug related charges to include possession and sale of a narcotic. The arrest was a result of multiagency cooperation led by Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) assisted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

On Aug. 10, AZDPS detectives arrested Braulio De Diego, 30, of Mesa, and seized 35.7 pounds of fentanyl pills near State Route 101 and Chandler Boulevard, in Chandler, following a drug trafficking investigation.

Law enforcement officers seized the approximately 150,000 pills in his vehicle. The street value of the pills is estimated at over $525,000.

Members of the public can report any suspicious activity by calling 1-866-347-2423 toll-free, internationally at 001-1802-872-6199, or complete the online tip form.

For additional information about HSI’s focus on combatting narcotics activity in Arizona, follow us on Twitter @HSIPhoenix.

HSI the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities throughout the United States, and 86 overseas locations in 55 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.