Mesa Police Officers Seize Illicit Fentanyl- valued at $1.2Million

On July 4, 2024, just before 10:30am, Mesa police officers responded to a welfare check in the parking lot of 645 W. Rio Salado Parkway. The caller stated three people were in a gold Cadillac and the driver appeared to be unconscious and slumped over. 

Officers pulled up to the Cadillac and as they began walking toward the car, the driver, 26-year-old Gabriel Rodriguez, immediately opened the door and ran away. Two officers ran after him and one officer stayed with the vehicle, which was occupied by 38-year-old Julian Reyes and 24-year-old Sunflower Short. The officer could see small blue pills scattered throughout the car in addition to a partially opened duffel bag containing several medium sized packages wrapped in packing tape.

Rodriguez was later apprehended and transported to the hospital after cutting his arm on razor wire while trying to flee.

After obtaining a search warrant, officers located 58 packaged bundles (over 200lbs) and two to three smaller opened bundles inside the vehicle. The packages contained approximately 750,000 M30 blue pills of illicit fentanyl, street valued at $1.2 million.

Reyes and Short were booked into jail for Possession of Narcotic Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia, while Rodrigez remains in the hospital but is facing charges of Possession and Transport of Narcotic Drugs for Sale and Possession of Narcotic Drugs when he is discharged.

Blue pills in vehicle

Package bundles

$1.2 million illicit fentanyl pills

 

Julian Reyes Mug Shot

Sunflower Short Mug Shot

                                              

Mesa Police Seize 95 Pallets of Illegal Fireworks

Firework tents and sale locations for fireworks seem to be everywhere you turn. And while some businesses are only sticking to legal fireworks for sale in Arizona, some are not. The Mesa Police Department began its Fireworks Enforcement Operation on June 24, 2024. Within that week, Mesa police officers along with Mesa Fire Inspectors began to inspect firework sale locations and proactively investigate illegal firework sales. 

On June 27, 2024, officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for making a wide right turn and saw illegal fireworks in the open truck bed as they approached. The driver was identified as 18-year-old Wilbur Rabago. Rabago admitted to having the fireworks for sale and hoped to sell them for $1,000. He was booked into jail for violating Mesa City Code 6-21.2A Prohibited Fireworks and 7-2-2 Prohibited Fireworks for Sale, both misdemeanors.

Wilbur Rabago

Illegal Fireworks

This same day, June 27, 2024, officers contacted a subject selling illegal aerial fireworks, which were housed at a location in Chandler, AZ. A search warrant was granted, allowing officers to enter the storage containers believed to have the fireworks inside. Officers found nine shipping containers, forty feet in length, containing 2,147 boxes of illegal fireworks. The fireworks were stacked on 95 pallets and took four semi-truck loads to move and are estimated at over $1,000,000. 

Boxes of Illegal Fireworks

Officers identified the operator of the firework business and charges are pending as the investigation continues. 

The 4^th of July should be a fun day of celebration, just do so safely and lawfully. The Mesa Police Department will have a dedicated team of officers available during the holiday to strictly enforce firework laws. The agency has also created a new link to report illegal firework activity online with the choice of remaining anonymous. The person submitting the request can send photos and/ or videos and the information will come to officers currently working in the community. This email box will be monitored all hours of the day and night through July 6, 2024, allowing citizens to report illegal fireworks in real time. Just visit mesaaz.gov, click “Residents,” then under “Police” click “Report Fireworks.” 

Citizens can also report illegal firework activity by calling the Mesa Police Department non-emergency number at 480-644-2211, emailing FIREWORKS@mesaaz.gov, or calling 911 in case of emergency.

As a reminder, some fireworks in Arizona are illegal. For information about which fireworks, please visit https://fire.mesaaz.gov/community-outreach/fireworks