Collateral Damage: Arizona drug dealers becoming arms dealers online – Arizona's Family
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - Valley detectives say they are seeing a disturbing trend on popular apps like Snapchat, where drug dealers are cross-marketing as arms dealers, selling illegal guns and accessories, amplifying the danger to our community.We’re talking about small online buys that can do some serious damage by turning a pistol into a machine gun. Snapchat isn’t just an app for silly filters. It’s become the go-to marketplace for drug dealers who are now crossing over into illegal gun sales.Maricopa County Det. Matt Shay works with the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, or HIDTA, regional taskforce. “If you engage in armed drug dealing in Maricopa County, we are coming for you,” Shay said.Lately, his specialty has been focusing on building cases against Valley drug dealers advertising 24/7 deliveries on social media. He was able to show us samples of cases where dealers are showing off massive supplies of drugs, stacks of cash, diamond jewelry, fancy cars, and lots and lots of guns for sale. “They want to protect themselves and their product and sometimes that ends up in violence,” Shay said.That proof of success also makes them a target for drug rips where thieves set up a deal and show…
Read more