HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested four people in connection with the theft of tequila, valued at more than $500,000.
At about 11 p.m. Sunday night, a truck driver hauling a load of tequila stopped for dinner at the Tampa Truck Stop, 6503 N. US Highway 301 and noticed someone had detached his trailer from the vehicle, authorities said.
Deputies canvassed the area and found the trailer near Ike Smith Rd. and McIntosh Road. They said four men were moving cases of tequila to another box truck parked behind it.
Deputies went in their truck and recovered 20 of the estimated 966 cases that were stolen. The Patrón tequila is valued at $507,105.
Deputies arrested Vidal Estrada of Fort Lauderdale, Alberto Obaya of Plant City, and Humberto Ramirez of Mascot.
Deputies said Lemuel Escobar of Clermont tried to flee the scene, but was detained nearby on McIntosh Rd.
The men are facing charges of burglary and grand theft.
