Big rig with 1,000 pounds of pot stopped near New River

A semi tractor-trailer rig, stopped early Friday north of Phoenix, for an equipment violation, was found to be hauling 1,000 pounds of marijuana, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

The truck was stopped about 4:30 a.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 17 near New River.

The marijuana was mixed in with a legitimate load of frozen food products, DPS said.

The truck is owned by M & G Enterprises in East Hartford, Conn., and was making a run from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., to Westborough, Mass.

The driver, Thomas Belliveau, 49, of Bosrah, Conn., was arrested on suspicion of transportation of marijuana for sale.