NEW YORK — The Arizona Department of Public Safety has discovered evidence that will likely result in arrests in the case of a copper heist at producer Asarco LLC, a department spokesman told AMM Tuesday.

Copper ingots worth more than $1.5 million, allegedly stolen from the Tucson, Ariz.-based producer, were seized by Arizona police and U.S. Customs officials in September and October, spurring an investigation into a theft law enforcement officials suspected was an inside job (amm.com, Nov. 15).

Financial records and ledgers seized in southern Arizona last week show that 12 to 15 people were allegedly involved in the scheme, the spokesman said. E-mail correspondence, bills and other documents also indicate that a trucking company and a scrap company were connected to the criminal syndicate that allegedly stole the copper.

Arizona police will continue to investigate the theft before making any arrests, the spokesman said.