TUCSON – Three U.S.citizens were arrested in separate attempts to smuggle methamphetamine through the Port of San Luis since the beginning of August. The arrests resulted in the seizure of more than $157,000 in meth by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, last Thursday afternoon, officers referred a 19-year-old San Luis, Arizona resident for a secondary inspection of his Nissan coupe as he attempted to enter the U.S. through the port. More than 30 packages of meth were removed from the speaker box, with an estimated weight of nearly 64 pounds and worth almost $58,000.
Then on Friday afternoon, a 28-year-old San Luis, Arizona resident was referred for a further search of his Ford sedan as he attempted to enter the U.S. through the port. A CBP canine alerted to the back of the vehicle, where officers located and seized more than 52 pounds of meth, worth in excess of $47,000.
On Sunday evening, a 19-year-old San Luis, Arizona man was referred for a search of his Volkswagen sedan as he attempted to enter the U.S. through the port. Officers discovered more than 40 packages of meth from throughout the vehicle. The drugs weighed more than 57 pounds and have an estimated value of almost $52,000.
The smugglers were arrested and then turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.