Nogales CBP officers seize nearly $3.8 million in hard drugs over the weekend

NOGALES, AZ (KOLD News 13) - Over the course of the weekend, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Nogales Port of Entry stopped five smuggling attempts worth more than $3.8 million and arrested six people.

The first drug seizure occurred on Friday night, April 12 at the Mariposa Crossing when CBP officers referred a Chevy truck, driven by a 29-year-old man from Mexico for secondary inspection. According to CBP, a search of that truck revealed 23 pounds of methampheatmine, 7 pounds of cocaine, 2 pounds of heroin and more than a pound of fentanyl hidden in the truck's speaker box, the drugs were worth an estimated $600,000.

Another smuggling attempt was stopped after a Ford, driven by two women from Mexico, was pulled for secondary inspection after a CBP canine alerted to it. Officers discovered 10 bundles of cocaine, weighing nearly 25 pounds in the vehicle's gas tank; the drugs were worth an estimated $600,000.

Drugs found in gas tank (Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

CBP officers at the Dennis DeConcini Crossing were also busy. According to CBP officers pulled a 28-year-old woman from Tucson for secondary inspection after she attempted to enter the U.S. via the pedestrian lane. During the search of the woman, CBP discovered one package of fentanyl hidden internally. The drugs weighed more than half a pound and were worth an estimated $7,200.

Methamphetamine bundle smuggled internally (Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

Saturday evening, April 13 also proved to be a big night for CBP at the Mariposa Crossing, when a vehicle driven by a 37-year-old Mexican national was pulled for secondary inspection. A total of nearly 74 pounds of heroin and 50 pounds of fentanyl were discovered hidden beneath the rear seats of the vehicle. According to CBP the drugs were worth an estimated $2.6 million.

Fentanyl seized (Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

On Sunday, April 14, a 17-year-old was stopped and searched as he attempted to enter the U.S. via the DeConcini Pedestrian Crossing. CBP officers discovered two packages of heroin, weighing nearly a pound and a half, taped to the teen’s thighs. The drugs were worth an estimated $40,000.

Heroin taped to teens thighs (Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

All drugs and vehicles were seized by CBP officers and the six people were arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Drug Enforcement Agency.