TUCSON, Ariz. – Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican national and a U.S. citizen during separate weekend smuggling attempts at the Port of Nogales.
Officers at the Mariposa Commercial facility arrested Jesus Julian Montiel-Portillo, 24, from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the Jeep SUV he was driving on May 2. During a secondary inspection, officers located nearly 40 pounds of heroin, worth approximately $560,000, within the firewall area.
A day later, officers at the Morley pedestrian crossing arrested Jesus Enrique Tolano, 23, of Rio Rico, after finding more than three pounds of meth, valued at almost $10,000, hidden within a gaming system he was carrying.
Officers processed all drugs and vehicles involved, and referred the subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.