TUCSON – On Thursday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Nogales arrested a U.S. citizen for attempting to smuggle 260 pounds of fentanyl, heroin, meth, and cocaine into the country. The drugs have an estimated street value of more than $1,400,000.00.
The unidentified female 34-year-old citizen attempted to enter the United States through the Port of Nogales in her pickup truck. She was referred for further inspection, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
“Day in and day out, CBP Officers continue to protect our nation’s borders and communities. Yesterday, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and over 211,000 fentanyl tablets were stopped at the border by CBP Officers from reaching our neighborhoods throughout the United States,” stated Area Port Director Michael Humphries in a press release. “This is another excellent example of our officers working together as a team to achieve this great enforcement action to prevent these deadly drugs from reaching neighborhoods. Our officers remain dedicated to protecting the borders in the midst of this pandemic.”
CBP officers conducted a thorough vehicle inspection and noticed anomalies throughout. It was after an alert by a CBP narcotics detection canine that officers discovered a total of 209 packages concealed throughout the cab, truck bed, tailgate and spare tire.
The drugs were determined to be 51 pounds of fentanyl tablets (over 211,000 tablets), 91 pounds of heroin, 113 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly six pounds of cocaine.
The drugs were seized and the woman was arrested and then turned over for federal prosecution.
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