Nogales, Ariz. —A Mexican national and three U.S. citizens were apprehended in separate weekend incidents involving attempts to smuggle a combined 98-plus pounds of drugs into the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred a 23-year-old United States man for further inspection of his Volkswagen as he attempted to enter the U.S. last Thursday. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs underneath the rear seats, officers discovered more than four pounds of methamphetamine worth almost $13,000, and nearly eight pounds of heroin worth approximately $109,000.
Saturday, officers at the Deconcini crossing arrested a 36-year-old Mexican man after finding more than 25 pounds of cocaine hidden inside of his Chevy sedan’s rear quarter panel. A CBP canine assisted officers in finding ten packages of the drug, valued at more than $262,000.
Earlier that day, a 22-year-old Nogales, Arizona woman was arrested after officers located more than 41 pounds of meth inside of the rear quarter panels at the DeConcini crossing. The man was attempting to cross the border with more than $124,000 worth of the drug.
Sunday, a 21-year-old Tucson man was arrested by officers at the DeConcini crossing for attempting to cross the border with nearly 20 pounds of meth, worth more than $59,000. All drugs and vehicles were seized. The subjects were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.