$4 Million in Cocaine & Meth Seized at Nogales Port

NOGALES, Arizona -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Nogales port of entry arrested five people in connection with three failed attempts to smuggle $4 million worth of cocaine and methamphetamines into the country on Tuesday, April 11. The largest and most significant seizure occurred at around 10:00 a.m. when CBP officers at the Dennis DeConcini port of entry in Nogales decided to search a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by a 24-year-old man from Sinaloa, Mexico. While searching the vehicle, the officers noticed discrepancies in the trunk area, so they called in "Snap," a narcotics detector dog. When the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics odor, the officers continued their search and discovered a compartment that held 35 packages of narcotics. Officers discovered 53 pounds of cocaine and 13 pounds of methamphetamines. The driver and his passengers, a 45-year-old woman and 21-year-old woman from Sinaloa, were all arrested. The estimated street value of the narcotics is almost $2 million. At around 12:30, CBP officers at the Mariposa port of entry arrested a 31-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora after discovering 23 pounds of cocaine hidden in the quarter panels of a 1992 Geo Tracker. Estimated street value of the cocaine is almost $600,000. The third incident happened at around 4:45 p.m. at the Mariposa port of entry. Officers searching a 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette discovered a compartment built into the gas tank. When they opened the compartment, they found another 53 pounds of cocaine and 8 pounds of methamphetamines in a total of 23 packages. Estimated value of both narcotics is more than $1.5 million. The driver, a 20-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora was also arrested. "I am very proud of the men and women who work very hard and take seriously their jobs as part of America's Frontline," said Port Director James Tong, "The three cocaine and methamphetamine seizures reflect the constant vigilance and effort our CBP Officers put forth daily, protecting our nation's border from illicit drugs and other criminal activity." From the beginning of the fiscal year through the end of March, CBP officers at the port of entry in Nogales have seized more than 2,400 pounds of cocaine, 269 pounds of methamphetamines, almost 10,000 pounds of marijuana and 73 pounds of heroin, with an estimated street value of more than $112 million.