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  4. Nogales CBP Officers Seize $1.38 Million in Hard Drugs

Nogales CBP Officers Seize $1.38 Million in Hard Drugs

Release Date
Thu, 11/07/2013

TUCSON, ARIZ.—Five people were arrested in separate weekend smuggling attempts involving local residents and Mexican nationals at the Port of Nogales.

Saturday morning, a 42-year-old male Mexican national was arrested after officers found more than 27.5 pounds of methamphetamine, worth nearly $427,000, hidden throughout a Buick sedan he was driving through the Dennis DeConcini Port. 

Friday, officers made four apprehensions involving the seizure of meth and cocaine with a combined value close to $750,000.

The largest seizure involved a 40-year-old Rio Rico woman taken into custody at the Mariposa Port after a CBP narcotic detection canine alerted to nearly 38 pounds of meth, worth more than $586,000, in her Chevrolet sedan.
A 33-year-old Rio Rico man was also arrested at the same location after a service canine alerted to the presence of drugs in his Volkswagen sedan. Officers removed nearly 22 pounds of cocaine, valued at almost $200,000, from the vehicle’s fuel tank.
A 38-year-old Mexican man was arrested when he attempted to enter the United States through the DeConcini Port with more than nine pounds of methamphetamine within the fenders of his Nissan sedan. The drugs, valued at nearly $146,000, were also detected by a CBP canine.

A 34-year-old Nogales woman was arrested on Thursday when she attempted to enter the U.S. through the Morley Pedestrian Gate with more than a pound of meth valued in excess of $17,000, hidden under spandex clothing she was wearing.

Nogales area Port Director Guadalupe Ramirez complimented the ongoing efforts of personnel assigned to the local ports. “The hard work and dedication of our CBP officers is evident in the number and types of seizures we are seeing,” he said. “Continued vigilance remains our priority.”

The subjects were referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The drugs and vehicles were processed for seizure.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021