TUCSON – Two Mexican nationals and a U.S. citizen were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in separate alleged attempts to smuggle money and weapons.
Officers seized nearly $163,000 in unreported currency as well as a pair of tactical weapons.
On Monday, a 28-year-old Mexican national man for additional inspection of his Chevy SUV, as he attempted to enter Mexico through the port. The search of the vehicle led to the discovery of several packages within the left quarter panel. The packages contained more than $142,000 in unreported U.S. currency.
On Tuesday morning, officers conducting outbound operations at the Mariposa Crossing referred a 27-year-old Mexican national man of Tucson, for an additional search of his Chrysler sedan, as he attempted to cross into Mexico through the port. The search led to the discovery of two AK-47 rifles and two empty 30-round magazines beneath the driver’s side floor mat.
Then on Tuesday afternoon, officers conducting outbound operations at the Mariposa Crossing referred a 22-year-old Tucson woman for a further search of her Honda sedan, as she attempted to cross into Mexico through the port. Officers searched the subject, who had two bundles of unreported U.S. currency inside of her purse containing more than $20,000.