Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two Mexican nationals for two separate failed hard narcotics smuggling attempts on Aug. 4 through the Port of Nogales.
The first incident occurred early in the morning when officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred a 27-year-old resident of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for a secondary inspection of her Jeep SUV. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of nearly 51 pounds of meth, worth nearly $153,000, concealed in a non-factory compartment inside the firewall of the vehicle. They also found more than two pounds of heroin worth nearly $43,000.
Later that morning, officers at the Mariposa crossing referred a 23-year-old resident of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for a secondary inspection his Pontiac sedan. A CBP narcotics detection canine alert led officers to nearly 62 pounds of meth, worth more than $185,000, that was hidden within the vehicle’s seats.
Officers seized the narcotics, both vehicles, and turned both subjects over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Federal law allows officers to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
More than $1.2 Million in hard drugs seized in Nogales
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested four Mexican men during separate attempts last week to smuggle cocaine and methamphetamine through the Dennis DeConcini crossing.
The first incident occurred July 29 when officers referred a 30-year-old resident of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for a secondary inspection of his Volkswagen SUV. A positive alert by a CBP narcotics-detection canine led to the discovery of nearly 39 pounds of cocaine, worth close to $440,000, within a non-factory compartment inside the vehicle’s center hump.
Officers also found nearly 48 pounds of cocaine, valued in excess $540,000 in a vehicle driven by a 26-year-old resident of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. A canine’s alert also led officers to more than 13 pounds of cocaine, worth in excess of $150,000, in a GMC SUV driven by 28-year-old resident of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
On July 28, officers referred a 51-year-old lawful permanent resident living in Phoenix for an inspection of his Chevrolet truck and found close to 32 pounds of methamphetamine, worth more than $95,000, inside the vehicle’s gas tank.
In all, officers seized four vehicles, approximately 100 pounds of cocaine and 32 pounds of meth. All subjects were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Federal law allows officers to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
San Luis CBP Officers seize $315K worth of hard drugs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis arrested two Yuma County residents on las Friday (July 29) for attempting to smuggle 17.5 pounds of cocaine and meth valued at approximately $315,000.
After CBP officers referred a 24-year-old San Luis, Ariz. resident for a secondary inspection of her Toyota sedan, a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs inside of the center console of the vehicle. A total of more than 24 pounds of cocaine pounds of cocaine, with a value exceeding $275,000.
At about the same time, a 29-year-old Yuma resident was referred for a further inspection of his Chevy truck. Following a canine alert to the interior of the truck, officers removed more than 13 pounds of meth, with a value nearing $40,000, from underneath the rear seats.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle. Both subjects were arrested before being turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
