S.W.A.T stand-off nets 2000 lbs of marijuana, 5 in custody

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UPDATE 9:15 p.m. - TUCSON - Tucson police are investigating a drug bust on the West side, resulting in many businesses having to evacuate around the area.

Tucson police received an anonymous call about suspicious cars and people who were armed wearing ski masks who were trying to get into the building on the 2500 block of Dragoon Street.

When police arrived they were able to catch the suspects outside of the building but were told their were more people inside.

Witnesses at the Holiday Inn said they heard helicopters circling around the hotel and men with guns forcing their way into the building.

Fred Tweimuyer, a guest at the Holiday Inn said, "I called the front desk and they said, well we know about it, there's some type of stand off going on. And about an hour later they asked us to evacuate the building."

The SWAT team was eventually called to the scene to find the other suspects who were hiding inside the building. They eventually discovered crates filled with 2,000 pounds of marijuana ready for shipment to an unknown location.

According to police, five men are in custody and they are continuing to investigate.

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Tucson Police say an anonymous tip reporting armed men in masks, some with body armor, led authorities to a west side industrial warehouse.

Officer Chuck Rydzak says the 2500 block of N. Dragoon St. near I-10 and Grant was first secured by under cover narcotics offices and other police late Saturday night.

He says multiple suspects were then detained outside the building while the S.W.A.T team moved into position.

Rydzak says there was no communication with remaining suspects inside the ware house after a two hour stand-off.

Armored S.W.A.T. vehicles crashed through a garage door gaining access inside the ware house after midnight.

Police found three crates with packaged marijuana bundles weighing about 20 lbs each.  Additional bundles were found loaded onto a flat bed truck.

An official weight and street value has yet to be calculated.

They say additional suspects were found hiding in the ceiling.

Investigators say the ware house serves as a marijuana distribution station for delivery to other cities.

They are still trying to determine who owns the building and what roles the 5 suspects in custody play in the drug operation.

Rydzak says narcotics officers hope the drug bust leads to further arrests.

See the images and learn the latest on KVOA News, Saturday at 10pm.