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  4. Two Arrested, More Than $315,000 in Drugs Seized

Two Arrested, More Than $315,000 in Drugs Seized

Release Date
Thu, 11/13/2014

TUCSON, Ariz. – Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican man and a Phoenix area man over the weekend during separate attempts to smuggle methamphetamine and cocaine through the Port of Nogales.

CBP officers at the DeConcini crossing located more than 26 pounds of cocaine within the tires.

CBP officers at the DeConcini crossing located more than 26 pounds of cocaine within the tires.

CBP officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing selected a Chevrolet truck driven by Jorge Alberto Saracho-Velarde, 36, from Caborca, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection on Nov. 8. Officers found more than 26 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $274,000 in all of the truck’s tires after using a CBP narcotics detection canine.

CBP officers at the DeConcini crossing located meth within the rear bumper of a smuggling vehicle

CBP officers at the DeConcini crossing located meth within the rear bumper of a smuggling vehicle.

On Nov. 9 officers at the DeConcini crossing referred Diego Villalpando Valadez, 26, of Tolleson, Ariz. for further inspection of his Nissan sedan. A CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the rear bumper of the vehicle where officers found six packages of methamphetamine weighing nearly 14 pounds and worth approximately $41,000.

Officers processed the vehicles and drugs for seizure, and referred both subjects 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.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021