Man arrested with 17 pounds of cocaine near Picacho Peak

An Arizona Department of Public Safety officer has arrested a man in possession of more than 17 pounds of cocaine during a traffic stop this week.

About 1 p.m. Monday, a DPS officer pulled over a 1994 Honda for an unsafe lane change and following too close on Interstate 10 at Milepost 201 near Picacho Peak, a press release from DPS said.

The car was driven by Jose Luis Uriarte, 31, of Tucson, who was on his way to Las Vegas.

After searching the vehicle, the officer found plastic kilo-sized bundles that amounted to 17.5 pounds of cocaine in the top side of the driver wall and $7,280 in a hidden compartment. The drugs ran a street value of $160,000.

Uriarte was booked on suspicion of transportation and possession into the Pinal County Jail in Florence.