Arizona Militia Men Accused Of Stealing Cocaine From Smugglers In FBI Sting
Three men affiliated with a militia group in Arizona have been charged with stealing drugs in the same manner long used by crews who rob smugglers. The trio’s leader had told U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents he wanted to help stop illegal activities at the border.
The three men have pleaded not guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.
According to court documents, Parris Frazier was contacted last February by an undercover FBI agent posing as a source that formerly assisted Border Patrol. Frazier had asked Border Patrol to put him in touch with the source in order to acquire information that would allow him to assist the agency with stopping crime along the border, according to records.
Authorities say Frazier told the undercover agent that he and a few others were interested in drugs coming into the U.S. and money going back to Mexico. He offered to give the undercover agent a cut of whatever was taken, according to court documents.
Over the next six months, the agent informed Frazier of jobs ripping off staged drug cartel loads, all observed by FBI surveillance. The last sting took place in July at a warehouse in Phoenix, where the three men were observed stealing packages of cocaine, according to records.
After a high-speed chase involving FBI SWAT and aircraft teams, the three men were arrested.
