TUCSON, Ariz. — Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Nogales seized nearly 167 pounds of heroin and methamphetamine recently during separate smuggling attempts.
Officers at the Mariposa crossing seized more than 64 pounds of heroin and four pounds of meth, from a vehicle crossing into the U.S.
Officers at the Mariposa crossing arrested a Mexican man Tuesday after a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs inside the rocker panels of his Chrysler sedan. Officers removed 64 pounds of heroin, worth nearly $905,000, and almost four pounds of methamphetamine valued at nearly $12,000. The 64 pounds of heroin is the second largest seizure of its kind for the Tucson Field Office.
On Dec. 13, officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing arrested a 45-year-old Nogales, Arizona man after a service canine led to the discovery of hidden compartment near the rear seats of his Oldsmobile SUV. Officers then removed 12 pounds of heroin, worth almost $165,000, and more than two pounds of meth valued at nearly $6,500.
Officers at the DeConcini crossing on Dec. 14 referred a 20-year-old Mexican man for a closer look at his Dodge sedan. When the driver opened his hood, officers found a single package of meth inside the oil pan. The package contained nearly 8.5 pounds and an estimated value exceeding $25,000.
Later that day at the same crossing, officers stopped a Ford sedan for a canine search. After a positive alert to the rear quarter panels and doors, officers located and removed 52 pounds of meth worth approximately $155,000.
At the Mariposa crossing that night, officers arrested a 33-year-old Mexican man after a canine alerted to the gas tank of his Chevrolet truck. Inside, officers found 23 packages containing 24 pounds of meth worth more than $72,000.
Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and turned the subjects over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.