HOLBROOK – Chalk two more for the arguably superhero Navajo County Sheriff’s Office K9 that goes by the name Zolton.
On March 3, he was instrumental in exposing illegal drugs that enabled MPs to arrest two drug addicts and keep more than 102 pounds of meth, valued at more than $ 2 million, off the streets and out of the hands of users to keep.
Efren E. Bencomo, 33, from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Jorge Luis Lopez, 24, from San Diego were arrested several hours apart in separate drug busts in which Zolton was sniffing the outside air to reveal the meth hidden in each of them The vehicles are discovered to be driven by Bencomo and Lopez when stopped on Interstate 40 (nicknamed the Freeway of Crime) for traffic violations.
After Zolton discovered drugs in Bencomo’s car when pulled up just before 11 a.m., MPs likely had reason to search them and allegedly found 57.1 pounds of meth in them.
Bencomo has been detained in Navajo County Prison in Holbrook for transporting a dangerous drug, possession of a dangerous drug for sale, possession of a dangerous drug, and possession of a narcotic drug.
Just a few hours later, at 1:53 p.m., Zolton was brought in for a bust near North Park Road and I-40 when the K9 officer again sniffed the air to point out drugs in the truck Lopez was driving, which was also stopped for a relatively short man traffic violation.
After MPs again likely had a reason to search the truck after Zolton drew attention to the presence of drugs, they allegedly found 45.3 pounds of meth hidden in a table in the truck’s bed.
Lopez has been admitted to Holbrook Prison for transporting dangerous drugs, possessing a dangerous drug for sale, and possessing a dangerous drug.
A review of the prison list for Friday March 12th revealed that both Lopez and Bencomo are still in custody.
Comments are closed.