U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at the Dennis DeConcini crossing at the Port of Nogales in Arizona recently stopped attempted fentanyl smuggling by a single individual.
The incident began as officers stopped a 28-year old Mexican national driving a Chevrolet SUV for a standard secondary inspection. After a sweep using a narcotics-detecting canine unit, the officers discovered 23 pounds of the illicit opioid fentanyl stashed behind the vehicle’s radio. The narcotics are estimated at an approximately $378,000 street value.
The individual was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit for processing. The individual will be charged with attempted narcotics smuggling.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) describes the drug as a “potent synthetic opioid, prescribed for severe chronic pain, or breakthrough pain, to patients who are already receiving opioid medication.” The drug is considered to be up to 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is listed as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of the nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry.