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  4. CBP Officers Seize More Than $484K in Hard Drugs

CBP Officers Seize More Than $484K in Hard Drugs

Release Date
Tue, 08/11/2015

TUCSON, Ariz. — Officers seized nearly 38 pounds of heroin and cocaine during separate weekend smuggling attempts at the Port of Nogales.  

Customs and Border Protection officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred Onexy Martinez-Meza, 20, a permanent resident alien living in Phoenix, for further questioning and a secondary inspection of his Mazda on August 8. After a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to car’s backseat, officers removed more than 16 pounds of heroin worth in excess of $231,000.

Eight pounds of heroin, valued at close to $112,000, concealed in the transmission of his Dodge station wagon

Eight pounds of heroin, valued at close to $112,000, concealed in the transmission of a station wagon

A short time later, officers at the DeConcini crossing referred Guadalupe Arredondo-Flores, 35, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection of her Ford SUV. After a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to a rear quarter panel, officers removed nearly 14 pounds of cocaine worth almost $142,000.

Officers at the same crossing also arrested Nathan Smith, a resident of Dixie, Washington, after finding nearly eight pounds of heroin, valued at close to $112,000, concealed in the transmission of his Dodge station wagon on August 9.

Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and after arrest turned all three subjects over 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