Customs and Border Protection officers at Arizona’s Port of Nogales apprehended two U.S. citizens and one Mexican National during separate incidents involving attempts to smuggle 102 pounds methamphetamine (meth).
Officers working at the Dennis DeConcini crossing late Friday referred a 49-year-old U.S. citizen for a secondary inspection of his GMC truck when he attempted to enter the United States. During the inspection, a canine’s alert led to the discovery of nearly 32 pounds of meth, valued in excess of $95,000.
On Saturday, officers at the Mariposa crossing referred a 60-year-old Mexican national for a secondary inspection of his SUV. A CBP canine alerted officers to the location of drugs scattered throughout the vehicle resulting in the discovery of nearly 22 pounds of meth, valued at $67,000.
Then on Sunday, DeConcini officers referred an 18-year-old U.S. citizen for a secondary inspection of his Volkswagen sedan. Once again, a canine alerted officers to 47 pounds of methamphetamine, valued in excess of $142,000.
Officers arrested all three subjects for narcotics smuggling, and seized their vehicles/drugs before turning them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Federal law allows officers to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows for filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.