U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers recently arrested at Arizona’s Port of Nogales two Mexican nationals and two U.S. citizens attempting to smuggle approximately $685,000 worth of cocaine and methamphetamine.
Early on Aug. 18, officers referred a 27-year-old Mexican man and an 18-year-old Casa Grande, Arizona, woman in a 2003 Ford SUV for further inspection when they attempted to enter the United States through the Dennis DeConcini crossing. CBP officers discovered more than 40 pounds of meth, worth almost $122,000, in the vehicle’s quarter panels and firewall during the inspection.
Later that same day, officers at the Mariposa crossing referred a 17-year-old Tucson teen for a secondary search of the 2009 Volkswagen SUV in which she was attempting to enter the United States. A CBP canine alerted to the presence of almost 42 pounds of meth, worth nearly $126,000, in the rear quarter panels.
On Aug. 21 at the DeConcini crossing, officers referred a 63-year-old Mexican woman for an additional inspection of her 2012 Nissan sedan. A canine alerted officers to the vehicle’s dash where more than 36 pounds of cocaine, worth more than $410,000, was found.
The four suspects were placed under arrest for narcotics smuggling, and the drugs, as well as the vehicles, were seized.