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CBP Officers Upend Creative Smuggling Tactics

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two men Monday (June 13) connected to separate smuggling attempts at the Port of Nogales.

When officers searched what was reportedly a bag of tamales, they discovered nearly a pound of meth
When officers searched what was
reportedly a bag of tamales, they
discovered nearly a pound of meth

Officers first referred a 19-year-old Nogales, Arizona man for further inspection after crossing through the Morley Pedestrian Gate. Officers were inspecting a bag the man said contained food items when they discovered nearly a pound of methamphetamine worth more than $3,000. The drugs were disguised as tamales.

Later, officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred a 37-year-old man for a secondary inspection of his GMC truck. A CBP narcotics detection canine alerted officers to nearly 264 pounds of marijuana concealed in a shipment of brick pavers. The drugs are valued at more than $132,000.

Officers seized the vehicle and drugs, and turned both 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.

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Last Modified: February 3, 2021