TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis arrested three individuals this week in connection with separate smuggling attempts involving more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine.
CBP officers at the Port of San Luis discovered meth within the parts of a children's wooden scooter.
Monday, officers arrested Jose Emanuel Figueroa, 20, of Yuma, Arizona, after finding nearly $56,000 worth of meth -- 18.5 pounds -- within 12 wooden pieces to a child’s unassembled scooter packed in his luggage. Figueroa was attempting to enter the U.S. through the pedestrian crossing when officers searched his luggage.
Wednesday, officers selected a 19-year-old woman for a secondary inspection of her Mazda SUV and found 22 packages of meth, valued at nearly $71,000, within the vehicle’s rocker panels.
A few hours later, after officers selected a 56-year-old man from San Jacinto, California for further inspection of his Mercury sedan, a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to more than $25,000 worth of meth within the vehicle’s driveshaft.
Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and referred the subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.