TUCSON, Ariz. – Customs and Border Protection officers arrested three Mexican nationals and one U.S. citizens during separate recent attempts to smuggle marijuana through the Port of Douglas.
CBP officers at the Port of Douglas located more than 170 pounds of marijuana behind the seats of a smuggling vehicle.
Officers arrested a 38-year-old Phoenix woman on March 1, after finding 155 packages of marijuana throughout her GMC SUV. The drugs weigh more than 170 pounds and are worth in excess of $85,000.
A CBP narcotics detection canine alerted officers to a Ford SUV belonging to 54-year-old man of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, when he attempted to cross into the U.S. on Feb. 28. Officers arrested the subject after finding more than 284 pounds of marijuana worth approximately $142,000, throughout the vehicle.
Drug smugglers attempted to conceal marijuana within the quarter panels and cowling of a vehicle that was caught by CBP officers in southeastern Arizona.
A canine also helped officers locate nearly 57 pounds of marijuana in a Nissan sedan on Feb. 27. The vehicle, belonging to a 20-year old man of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, contained 50 packages hidden within the vehicle’s quarter panels and cowling. Officers arrested the subject in connection with the seizure worth more than $28,000.
Officers on Feb. 26 arrested 19-year-old man of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, after finding 217 pounds of marijuana, valued at $109,000, concealed throughout his Chevrolet truck.
Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and referred the subjects to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.