Arizona officer faces firing after Mexico ammunition arrest
Arizona's corrections agency began termination proceedings against officer Yanet Dowden after Mexican authorities said they arrested her with 5,445 rounds of ammunition near San Luis and alleged a Sinaloa Cartel connection.
Arizona correctional officer faces firing after Mexico ammunition arrest
The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry said Tuesday it plans to fire correctional officer Yanet Dowden after Mexican authorities arrested her near San Luis, Arizona, on allegations that she was smuggling weapons for the Sinaloa Cartel. KOLD News 13 reported that the agency placed Dowden on administrative leave and began the termination process.
Mexican officials said Dowden was arrested Friday directly across the international line from San Luis with 5,445 rounds of ammunition. Her vehicle was impounded. Authorities initially identified her as “Yanet N,” but an Arizona Department of Corrections identification card allegedly found with her identified her as a Level II correctional officer, according to a Mexican newspaper cited by KOLD News 13. The agency later confirmed her identity and the arrest.
Mexican authorities alleged that Dowden was linked to the Los Mayos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and described her as a logistics operator. The government said the seizure represented an estimated loss of about 1.6 million pesos, or roughly $96,500. ADCRR said it was conducting a full review and supporting law-enforcement agencies; the allegations and the reported cartel link remain claims attributed to Mexican authorities.