A U.S. Citizen and a Cuban National were arrested by Customs and Border Protection officers at Arizona’s Port of Nogales during separate weekend smuggling incidents involving fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine.
The 39-year-old Cuban man was referred for a secondary inspection in his Chevy SUV by officers working at the “Dennis DeConcini Crossing” Friday afternoon. During the inspection, a canine alert led to the discovery of more than 61-pounds of meth, and a package of fentanyl hidden within the vehicle’s quarter panels and dash. The narcotics have a combined value of more than $185,000.
A 21-year-old U.S. woman was referred for secondary inspection in her Chevy SUV on Saturday morning, by CBP officers at the “Mariposa” crossing. During that inspection, a canine alerted to the vehicle’s rear quarter panels where officers found more than 40 pounds of heroin and meth, worth more than $172,000.
In both incidents, officers charged the suspects with narcotics smuggling, and turned them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, along with their vehicles and drugs.