Protesters disrupt major drug bust in Tucson, mistaking it for immigration action

[Ptah]

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - A major drug bust in Tucson Wednesday night attracted several protesters, with many confusing it with an immigration action.

Federal agents and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it was part of a law enforcement action in a neighborhood near Midvale and Irvington.

ICE said more than 120 pounds of fentanyl, 20 pounds of meth, 35 pounds of cocaine and four firearms were seized Wednesday night. At least one person, a migrant, was taken into custody for drug and firearm charges.

Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple told 13 News that the protesters interfered with a major arrest. Teeple said the suspect is a former cartel member.

https://www.kold.com/2025/06/12/protesters-disrupt-major-drug-bust-tucson-mistaking-it-immigration-action/

[markie]

1. excellent example

of what happens when a gov't actions can't be trusted overall!

[JBTaurus83]

2. A similar thing

Happened In Minneapolis.

[Ocelot II]

3. Was just going to mention that incident.

There was a raid on a Mexican restaurant by DEA and ATF agents, apparently part of a legit investigation of drug dealing and money laundering, but ICE agents were also present and everybody was all got up in military gear, which made onlookers fairly assume an ICE raid was being conducted, and then things got messy. Were ICE agents sent only because the target was a Mexican restaurant? They didn't take anybody away; their presence just messed up the drug bust.

[FSogol]

4. Could that just be ICE's latest excuse? It wasn't a just a fishing expediation, we were looking for drugs.

I'm not really trusting what get reported.

[Ocelot II]

7. Looks like a legit drug raid.

Law enforcement officers found 900 pounds of methamphetamine in a Burnsville storage locker recently, which led them to raid eight Twin Cities metro locations seeking evidence related to the drug find, as well as evidence of bank fraud, illegal guns and human trafficking, according to a federal court filings.

The details of the raid were revealed in a federal indictment announced on Tuesday against a 27-year St. Paul woman for “assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers” during a protest at one of the search locations, Las Cuatro Milpas in south Minneapolis.

The indictment is filled with details that would seem to be tangentially related to the alleged assault on an officer, but shed light on the larger operation.

The attempt to execute a search warrant in south Minneapolis led to a contentious confrontation last week between a bevy of law enforcement agencies and demonstrators, who feared an ICE raid amid the agency’s increasingly militarized tactics. The indictment also confirms that the operation was not related to immigration per se but was an ongoing investigation of major drug trafficking.

The rest: https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/feds-south-minneapolis-law-enforcement-action-was-related-to-seizure-of-900-pounds-of-meth/

[Gore1FL]

5. Apparently ICE crying wolf as justification for their activities has consequences. Who'd have guessed? nt

[Ocelot II]

8. Maybe they shouldn't bring ICE agents with them when they are investigating activities

not related to immigration. If they want to do a drug raid, DEA should handle it themselves and leave the ICE guys at home.

[madville]

6. If they are legitimately interfering

Then arrest them for it. If they throw anything at or touch local law enforcement or federal agents then arrest them for assault. These flash mobs, especially those manipulated by false information on social media, are going to end badly for everyone involved.

Other than that if they are just videoing and yelling from an appropriate distance that isn’t impeding the operation then just ignore them, that’s the 1st amendment.