Arizona Department of Public Safety seizes more than $1.1 million in possible drug cash during the month of June

Friday, July 10, 2009 -

Several traffic stops by Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers along with the efforts of DPS criminal investigators resulted in the seizure of $1,148,605 in possible drug money during June of 2009. All of the money seized was U.S. currency.

The largest money seizure by DPS in June occurred during a single traffic stop on June 5 when a DPS officer stopped a 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck for a traffic violation on westbound I-40 at milepost 199 in Flagstaff. A subsequent search revealed one gram of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and $468,800 in U.S. Currency. The drugs, cash, and pickup truck were seized.

Driver: Scott Birchard, 50, of Council Bluffs, Iowa was arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail.

Charges: Money Laundering, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Mr. Birchard was traveling from Council Bluffs, Iowa to the Phoenix area.

“The seizure of over $1 million in drug cash along Arizona’s highways and through various criminal investigations in a month is fairly common these days. It shows the current level of activity by the drug cartels as they move their drugs and proceeds through the state. DPS officers will continue to intercept those involved in the drug trade and get them off the streets and behind bars,” said Roger Vanderpool, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.