In the late 1920s, Agent Reynolds had worked on narcotics cases in Arizona for over two years. He had previously cracked "an important case of narcotics smuggling in Nogales." By early August 1929, the efficient and well-liked twenty-nine year old former Army vet had uncovered evidence linking a " ‘pardon mill’ involving many higher ups in the Arizona rum and drug traffic rings, public officials, and prominent citizens."

On August 9, Reynolds decided to take a late night drive, perhaps to go swimming or see a movie. Three days later, his body was found floating in a canal outside Peoria; missing was his briefcase containing his evidence. Only the second FBI agent killed in the line of duty, a rigorous investigation unfolded, eventually involving numerous federal agents. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was furious over the slaying of the young G-man.

In spite of the best efforts of local, state, and federal investigators, Reynolds murder was never solved.

From the personal files of the longtime director of the Bureau of Narcotics, Harry Anslinger, comes this compelling description of a notorious yet unnamed major Arizona drug smuggler nicknamed "Phoenix" or "the Professor." Having illegally obtained assets totaling over a half million dollars, the "Professor" managed to elude federal prosecution over a span of several years.

The "Professor" was untouchable in Arizona. Federal authorities noted his "shrewd" ability to "outwit the prosecution." After each victory in court, "Phoenix would stage a celebration, his guests of honor being his attorney and the prosecutor."

Eventually the Bureau of Narcotics got their man by assigning one of their top agents, Van Treel, to the case. Instructed "not to close another case on ‘Phoenix’ in Arizona…where his local influence would evaporate," Van Treel convinced the "Professor" to sell the agent a large amount of opium in El Centro, California and made an arrest. Away from his ability to corrupt the justice system in Arizona, the "Professor" received the maximum ten-year sentence.

Although incarcerated drug violators were predominately poor, one group in particular faced scrutiny for their ability to prescribe drugs. By 1930, federal narcotics agents demonstrated that they could investigate and imprison doctors at the pinnacle of Arizona medical field.

Dr. William Whitmore: Long time U of A Regent, member of the Tucson school board, and former president of the Arizona State Medical association, Whitmore attracted attention from narcotics agents from his large number of morphine prescriptions. He served ten months at McNeil Federal Penitentiary.

Dr. Gypsard P. Van Marel: Six months after conducting the autopsy on murdered agent Paul Reynolds, Van Marel was found guilty of violating the Harrison Act, issuing hundreds of morphine prescriptions.

Dr. Reginald J. Stroud: Documents from the Bureau of Narcotics indicate that Stroud was fined $1000 for issuing "thousands" of morphine prescriptions. Stroud contributed a regular column, "Health Chats" to the Arizona Republican. The news of his narcotics violation apparently was not newsworthy despite Stroud’s position of State Superintendent of Public Health and his association, by marriage, with the wealthy Luhr family.

In 1931, Spanish-American war hero Richard Hobson made a one-day tour to address the State Legislature on the need for a uniform narcotics law. Dr. Stroud hosted the anti-drug crusaders visit

Arizona drug users, in particular opium addicts, received a good portion of their drugs from the Mexican State of Sonora. Both Chinese and Mexican farmers grew the poppy plant, for local consumption and export to the north. Documents from the Department from State and the Bureau of Narcotics suggest that at least one wealthy American rancher/farmer cultivated opium.

The lead narcotic agent at the San Francisco office filed a report, in 1924, that wealthy American rancher, L. S. Cutting, had opium fields on his Oquitoa, Sonora, property. However, Consul Henry Damn, assigned to Nogales used Cutting as an informant. Cutting blamed Chinese growers for the opium problems. He attempted, unsucessfully, to negotiate with the Parke-Davis pharmaceutical company to buy up Sonoran opium

Cutting’s accusation that U.S. Customs officials at Nogales had revealed his identity led to an inquiry from the Department of Treasury. Consulate Damn, in a strictly confidential report to the Secretary of State, pleaded to halt any investigation which could "cause embarrassment to the Consulate."