Heroin & Meth Worth $500,000 Seized

SAN LUIS, Ariz - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at the San Luis port of entry seized more than $500,000 worth of heroin and methamphetamines on April 24, arresting a man from San Luis Rio Colorado in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. At around 10:00 a.m., CBP officers screening people and vehicles entering the United States through the San Luis port of entry stopped the 30-year-old driver of a 1993 Mazda 626 for routine questioning. At the same time, CBP officers were also using a narcotics detector dog, "Reno," to help screen vehicles for narcotics. When "Reno" alerted officers to the presence of narcotics odor coming from the Mazda, the officers decided to conduct a thorough inspection. Officers then moved the vehicle to a secure area to conduct the inspection, during which the CBP officers discovered a compartment built into the car above the rear wheels. Inside the compartment, they found two packages of methamphetamines and one package of heroin. More than 4 pounds of heroin and 3 pounds of methamphetamines were seized, along with the vehicle. The driver was arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for further investigation and prosecution. Estimated street value of the narcotics is $535,000. This is the first major seizure of heroin at the San Luis port of entry since March 2005, when a 34-year-old woman from Phoenix was arrested after attempting to smuggle more than 11 pounds of heroin into the country.