Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican national and three U.S. citizens involved in separate weekend attempts to smuggle heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine through the Dennis DeConcini crossing in Nogales, Arizona.
Officers referred a 27-year-old man from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, for a secondary inspection of his Hyundai SUV on Sept. 9. After a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the vehicle’s rear cargo area, officers found close to 160 pounds of cocaine, worth nearly $1.8 million.
Earlier on Sept. 9, a CBP canine helped officers locate more than 17 pounds of meth, valued in excess of $52,000, in the front wheel wells of a Dodge van driven by a 36-year-old man from Nogales, Arizona.
A third seizure Friday at the DeConcini pedestrian crossing involved a 16-year-old female from Nogales, Arizona, with almost 3 pounds of heroin, worth nearly $48,000, in her undergarments.
On Sept. 10, officers at the DeConcini pedestrian lanes referred a 32-year-old woman from Casa Grande, Arizona, for further inspection and discovered almost half-a-pound of meth in her underwear. Officers estimated the drugs to be worth more than $1,300.
Shots fired at Port of Nogales as driver attempts to flee into Mexico
Customs and Border Protection officers and a U.S. Border Patrol agent were involved in a shooting Thursday at approximately 2 p.m., while working at the Port of Nogales Mariposa Crossing.
Initial reports indicate that a subject attempted to evade Border Patrol agents and, while driving south through the port, swerved his vehicle in an apparent attempt to hit officers working at the port. OFO officers and a Border Patrol agent fired their service weapons at the driver. The driver sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was airlifted to a Tucson area hospital. There was also a passenger in the vehicle who sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is currently in custody. No officers or agents were injured.
The incident created a significant impact to southbound traffic through the port. As a result, southbound traffic lanes through the Mariposa Crossing have been temporarily closed. Traffic has been re-routed as the investigation continues.
The FBI, CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations are jointly investigating the incident. The U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations are cooperating with this investigation.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. Contacting the Border Patrol to report illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.
