Pinal authorities make 678-pound pot bust

Authorities found 678 pounds of marijuana in the back of this SUV. (Source: Pinal County... — Authorities found 678 pounds of marijuana in the back of this SUV. (Source: Pinal County Sheriff’s Office)

PINAL COUNTY, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Pinal County authorities said they found 678 pounds of marijuana in an SUV and arrested two men on drug smuggling charges.

The Pinal County Sheriff's Office said the Francisco Estrada Vizcarra, 17, and Ventura Zavala Angulo, 20, were arrested on Wednesday and are facing felony drug smuggling charges.

Both men are from Mexico and the estimated street value of the marijuana is $339,000.

The incident began when a deputy saw a SUV speeding on Interstate 8 near Montgomery Road.

"Before getting close enough to attempt a traffic stop, the vehicle exited on Montgomery Road and fled northbound," the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. "The deputy saw that two occupants of the truck had fled on foot and left the vehicle running in the middle of the road with the doors open."

Vizcarra and Angulo were arrested about 10 minutes later.

"Francisco told deputies that he crossed the border carrying the marijuana with 13 other smugglers and they split up as they got close to the highway," the PCSO said. "They were picked up by the SUV just prior to the deputy spotting them. We only arrested two and have no clue where the others have gone. This happens every day and every night, it seems we'/re only scratching the surface to this problem."