K-9 teams sniff out meth, heroin, cocaine, more

MOHAVE COUNTY – The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Program continues to have a direct impact on the “war” on illegal drugs since September 2017 when the program was reinstituted by Sheriff Doug Schuster.

“Once a deputy and his canine partner finish their training, they join our K-9 team,” said Sheriff Doug Schuster. “This is a great asset to our citizens and deputies as we will continue to aggressively attack illegal drug trafficking and work diligently to rid our streets of this illegal poison.”

MCSO currently has five deputy/K-9 teams that patrol the county. They are: Sergeant K. McCool and K-9 partner Chase, and Deputy K. Gunnoe and K-9 partner Bruno patrol the Kingman area, Golden Valley and the surrounding area; Deputy J. Felish and K-9 partner Brutus, who patrols the Arizona Strip area; Deputy J. Wilson and K-9 partner Doc, patrols Mohave Valley; and Deputy S. McCleary and his K-9 Partner Grimm patrols the Lake Havasu and surrounding areas. Even though other areas do not have deputy/K-9 teams assigned to them, the sheriff wanted to stress that the deputies and their canine partners are assigned to a normal patrol area, however, if someone needs a K9, they will respond wherever they are needed.

The teams have been called out 222 times, conducted 68 drug sniffs.

Fifteen K-9 apprehensions (suspect finds).

The handler/K-9 teams were instrumental in seizing: 1,194.8 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $2,478.01; ($2,074.2150333016 per pound).

19.15 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of $5,261.21($274.73684210526 per pound).

13.2 ounces of heroin with a street value of $26,274.04 ($1,990.458012671 per ounce).

820 THC (marijuana) vape pens with a street value of $16,400. These pens contain liquid THC that is considered an illegal narcotic.; ($20 each).

112 high-grade THC (marijuana) cigars with a street value of $8,400; ($75 each).

280 packages of marijuana edibles with a street value of $5,600; ($20 each).

220 pounds of ecstasy (MDMA) on a sniff conducted for Arizona Department of Public Safety with a street value of $2,000,000. ($9,090.9090909090 per pound).

.5 ounces of cocaine seized with a street value of $72.50 ($145 average per ounce).

12 grams of BHO (butane hash oil) seized with a street value of $480. This is a form of cannabis concentrate that is very potent. ($40 per gram).

The aforementioned prices are an average street cost and depending on the exact geographical area in the U.S., will determine the purchase price illegal drug users will have to pay.