Nogales CBP officers seize over $1 million in separate failed smuggling attempts
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Arizona’s Port of Nogales arrested six people involved in separate failed attempts to smuggle more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States on Thursday.
Officers referred a 33-year-old Mexican woman, in possession of a SENTRI card, for a secondary search of her Chevy truck. During the search, a CBP canine’s alert led to the discovery of more than 17 pounds of cocaine, worth in excess of $196,000, and more than five pounds of meth, worth nearly $16,000. Officers found the drugs hidden truck’s center console. Officers charged the woman with narcotics smuggling and seized her SENTRI card.
Later at the same crossing, officers referred a 21-year-old male U.S. citizen for a secondary inspection of his Dodge hatchback as he was returning to the U.S. During the inspection, a canine’s alert led officers to discover almost 14 pounds of cocaine, worth approximately $154,000, in the vehicle’s rear quarter panel.
Again, at the DeConcini crossing, officers referred a 25-year-old Mexican man for a secondary inspection of his Ford sedan. When a CBP canine alerted to the vehicle’s center console, officers found almost 17 pounds of cocaine, worth nearly $187,000.
Thursday evening, officers at the DeConcini crossing referred a 35-year-old U.S. woman for further questioning as she attempted to enter the U.S. in her GMC SUV. During the incident, a canine alerted officers to almost 96 pounds of meth, valued at over $287,000, hidden throughout the vehicle.
Later that night at the same crossing, officers referred a 23-year-old Mexican woman for further inspection of her Jeep. A CBP canine then alerted officers to more than 51 pounds of methamphetamine, worth approximately $154,000, in the vehicle’s spare tire.
Officers at the Mariposa crossing referred a 32-year-old Mexican man for a further search of his Ford truck, resulting in a canine alert that led to the seizure of more than 4 pounds of meth, worth in excess of $13,000, within the truck’s door panels.
In all incidents, officers seized the drugs and vehicles and turned the subjects over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations
