TUCSON – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Port of Nogales made an unusual find when they discovered fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin inside a plaster figurine.
Officer found the drugs on Sunday after they referred a 37-year-old Phoenix woman, for additional inspection of her Chevrolet sedan. During the inspection, CBP officers discovered the plaster figurine with nearly 4 pounds of fentanyl, almost 3 pounds of cocaine, and close to 11 pounds of heroin inside. The drugs are worth more than $150,000, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Earlier that day, officers encountered a 59-year-old Mexican national driving a Lincoln SUV attempting to enter the country. CBP officers referred him to the inspection lot and were assisted by a narcotics detection canine. The dog alerted to a scent it is trained to detect, with a subsequent search resulting in the discovery of more than 1.3 pounds of fentanyl and almost 91 pounds of methamphetamine concealed throughout the vehicle. The drugs have an estimated street value of nearly $106,000.
On the same day, CBP officers referred a 27-year-old Mexican national driving a Nissan sedan for further inspection. A CBP narcotic detection canine alerted to a scent it is trained to detect and officers were led to the vehicle’s floor compartment. The subsequent search resulted in the discovery of more than 30 pounds of cocaine and .26 pounds of fentanyl. The drugs have an estimated value of more than $331,000.