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CBP Officers, Canine Find Crystal Meth in Spare Tire

Release Date
Wed, 10/07/2015

LUKEVILLE, Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations officers seized almost 37 pounds of crystal meth Tuesday, worth an estimated $331,560, hidden in the spare tire of a vehicle attempting to enter the United States through Arizona’s Port of Lukeville.

CBP officers at the Port of Lukeville seized nearly 37 pounds of meth from within the spare tire of a smuggling vehicle

CBP officers at the Port of Lukeville seized nearly 37 pounds of meth from within the spare tire of a smuggling vehicle

After CBP officers selected a 1992 Chevy Blazer for a secondary inspection, using a canine and non-intrusive inspection technology, they detected the drugs in the vehicle’s spare tire. Officers arrested the driver, Espiro Aristidi Floris, a 70-year-old U.S. citizen, turned him and the drugs over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations agents for further investigation.

“International criminal organizations continue to use every means possible to conceal and move illicit narcotics across our border,” said Garret Reinhart, the port’s chief of staff.  “CBP uses a variety of sophisticated methods to detect hidden contraband, as well as highly trained officers and their canine partners.”

Officers processed the vehicles and drugs for seizure, and referred Floris to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021