Port of Nogales CBP officers seize more than $1.1 million in narcotics, arrest four in one day

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at the Port of Nogales in Arizona recently made a series of narcotics seizures and arrested four Mexican nationals over separate incidents.

The first incident occurred on Sunday as officers assigned to the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred a 35-year old Mexican man driving a Nissan sedan for a more thorough secondary inspection. Utilizing a narcotics-detecting canine team, the officers were alerted to suspicious activity within the vehicle, which prompted a physical search.

Officers then made the discovery of more than 58 pounds of methamphetamine, which were valued at approximately $175,000.

Later that same day, officers stationed at the Mariposa crossing referred a 37-year old Mexican man and a 28-year old woman for a secondary inspection of their Hyundai SUV. Using a narcotics-detecting canine unit, the officers were alerted to suspicious activity within the vehicle, which triggered a physical examination.

The resulting search led to the discovery of 23 pounds of fentanyl, 57 pounds of methamphetamine, and five pounds of heroin. The total narcotics shipment were valued at approximately $634,000.

A few hours later, Mariposa crossing CBP officers were able to stop a shipment of 58 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of heroin after a narcotics-detecting canine unit alerted officers to suspicious activity within a Ford SUV driven by a 23-year old Mexican man. In total, the narcotics were valued at approximately $208,000.

Each alleged smuggler was subsequently arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations agents for criminal processing. All drugs and vehicles involved were seized by CBP.