Arizona Alert Over Flavored Cocaine Threatens Local Youth Safety

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on December 11, 2025 that her office had secured a prison sentence for a dealer who marketed fruit flavored cocaine and issued a statewide warning about the emerging trend. Jaden Alfredo Covarrubias was sentenced in Pima County Superior Court on November 24, 2025 to 1.75 years in prison, equal to one year and nine months, after soliciting another person to possess approximately 1.55 pounds of cocaine for sale. He was ordered to pay $4,500 to the State Anti Racketeering Revolving Fund and $300 in investigative costs to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The case was investigated by the Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Sabrina Lochner.

Mayes used the announcement to alert Arizonans to flavored cocaine products marketed in flavors such as piña colada, strawberry, coconut, and banana, which law enforcement agencies have seen on the illicit market. Officials said the products appear targeted toward younger users and women, and emphasized the heightened danger that illegal drugs obtained on the street or online may be adulterated with fentanyl, which greatly increases overdose risk. "We want everyone to stay safe and avoid the harms that come from using illegal drugs," Mayes said. The Attorney General's office and public safety partners urged community members to report suspicious activity and to keep young people informed of the risks.

For Apache County residents the alert underscores a statewide threat that can reach rural and urban communities alike. School officials, parents, health care providers, and local law enforcement are likely to see this as a call to reinforce prevention measures, drug education, and vigilance around packages or products that appear designed to appeal to youth. The sentencing and consumer warning also highlight the cross jurisdictional work of state investigators and prosecutors in confronting evolving illicit drug markets. Community members are encouraged to communicate with family and neighbors about the risks and to report concerns to local law enforcement so officials can respond and protect residents.