U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at the Port of San Luis last week arrested four people attempting to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine in separate incidents.
Officers referred a 25-year-old Mexican national for further inspection after a canine narcotics unit flagged his Honda station wagon for suspicion of concealing drugs. After a brief investigation, officers were alerted to a compartment behind the vehicle’s backseat containing dozens of packages of drugs. The packages contained approximately 23 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately three pounds of heroin.
In a second incident, officers flagged a Jeep SUV driven by a 28-year-old Yuma man for further inspection. After a short investigation by a canine unit, officers were alerted to inspect the vehicle’s spare tire. Upon opening the tire, officers discovered approximately 39 pounds of methamphetamine. The drugs were worth approximately $116,000 on the street.
A third drug discovery was made when officers flagged a 17-year-old U.S. teen as he crossed through the port’s pedestrian lanes. As the suspect was searched, officers discovered more than five pounds of methamphetamine taped around the teen’s midsection. A similar incident occurred later in the day when officers discovered another U.S. male attempting to conceal more than three pounds of methamphetamine wrapped around his midsection.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicles and all four men were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.