Five suspects have been arrested in Maricopa County for allegedly using social media to traffic firearms and narcotics, according to the sheriff’s office.
Authorities say investigators across the Valley identified and apprehended the suspects, who were accused of advertising fully automatic machine guns online.
During the arrests, law enforcement seized not only illegal weapons but also significant quantities of dangerous drugs, including 2,000 fentanyl pills, as well as smaller amounts of cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamines.
Officials believe the suspects were actively engaged in drug trafficking in addition to their illegal firearms sales.
“The Maricopa County Drug Suppression Taskforce (MCDST) is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative which is a taskforce comprised of several Law Enforcement agencies including, MCSO, Buckeye Police, Tempe Police, Mesa Police, Surprise Police, Casa Grande Police, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the Arizona Department of Corrections, and the DEA. Task Force investigations are focused on the disruption and dismantling of mid-to-high drug trafficking organizations throughout the state,” the news release said.
The individuals arrested were identified as Luis Acevedo Machorro, Marcos Acevedo Machorro, Jennifer Rojas Madrigal, Andres Acevedo Dominguez, and Jesus Garcia Barrales. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
Bogalusa, Louisiana, is also reeling from the arrest of its youngest-ever mayor, Tyrin Truong, 25, who now faces charges including drug trafficking, misuse of taxpayer funds, and soliciting prostitutes. Truong, a Democrat elected in 2022 as a rising star in his party, is accused of participating in a local drug trafficking operation and abusing his position for personal gain.
The Louisiana State Police Narcotics/Violent Crime Task Force announced Tuesday that a months-long investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Bogalusa led to Truong’s arrest alongside six others.
“On Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at approximately 8:30 AM, Bogalusa Mayor Tyrin Truong was booked into the Washington Parish Jail,” the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office stated. Charges include soliciting prostitutes, unauthorized use of a moveable, and transactions involving drug proceeds.
