TUCSON, Ariz. — Three Mexican nationals and a Tucson woman were apprehended in separate incidents during the weekend for attempting to smuggle more than 57 pounds of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States.
CBP officers at the Mariposa crossing in Nogales, seized nearly 26 pounds of meth from within a smuggling vehicle.
Officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations at the Port of Nogales’ Mariposa crossing referred a 20-year-old Mexican woman for further inspection of a Chrysler van she was driving Sept. 5. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs inside the vehicle, officers found nearly 26 pounds of meth, worth about $78,000.
On Sept. 6, officers referred a 29-year-old Mexican man for additional questioning when he attempted to enter the U.S. through the Dennis DeConcini pedestrian crossing. A CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs within a pair of suitcases he was carrying, resulting in the seizure of nearly eight pounds of cocaine valued at almost $80,000.
Nearly eight pounds of cocaine are removed from a pair of suitcases that were inspected by CBP officers at the DeConcini crossing.
Earlier that day, officers directed a 37-year-old Tucson woman to a secondary inspection of her suitcases when she attempted to cross through the DeConcini pedestrian crossing. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs inside the suitcases, officers removed nearly eight pounds of cocaine valued at close to $81,000.
Also on Sept. 6, officers at the Dennis DeConcini Port referred a 37-year-old Mexican woman for further inspection of her Nissan sedan. A canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the dashboard where officers found 11 packages of meth weighing just more than 16 pounds and worth an estimated $48,000.
In all incidents, officers seized the drugs and vehicles. The subjects were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.