United States Drug Enforcement Administration

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jose Manuel Arellano-Noriega, 37, a Mexican national living in Phoenix, was arrested in Phoenix on Monday and charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute More than 400 Grams of Fentanyl.

According to the complaint, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Phoenix East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force were in the area of 43rd Avenue and McDowell Road in Phoenix when they observed a red Fiat 500 traveling approximately 55 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone. Based on the traffic violation, investigators conducted a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Arellano-Noriega based on his Mexican passport. A police canine conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

Investigators searched the vehicle and located a black backpack which contained a black semi-automatic 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine. During a post-Miranda interview, Arellano-Noriega stated he was the owner of the handgun and informed investigators he was in possession of large amounts of fentanyl pills and fentanyl powder at his apartment. Arellano-Noriega provided investigators verbal and written consent to search his apartment and provided the exact locations of the pills and powder located at his apartment.
In Arellano-Noriega’s apartment, investigators seized seven bricks, weighing over 7,800 grams of a white powdery substance that field tested positive for fentanyl. Investigators also seized approximately 100,000 blue pills which weighed approximately 12,146 grams and that field tested positive for fentanyl.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force which consists of partners from: Mesa Police Department, Gilbert Police Department, Apache Junction Police Department, Salt River Police Department and the Pinal County Sheriff's Office.