CBP News Release

Customs and Border Protection Officers Stop Heroin, Meth Smuggling Attempts

(Wednesday, October 01, 2008)

Nogales, Ariz. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Nogales port of entry had a busy weekend as they seized almost $500,000 of heroin and methamphetamine. This was a result of two different seizures within the same day.

On Friday, at about 6 p.m., a Mexican national driving a 1996 Ford Gran Marquis applied for entry into the United States at the Mariposa port of entry, Nogales, Ariz. The primary officer selected the vehicle for further inspection. As officers were conducting their inspection of the vehicle, they noticed discrepancies to the undercarriage. Officers discovered a single package of heroin weighing nearly three pounds concealed within the drive shaft of the vehicle.

Less than two hours later across the way, at the DeConcini port of entry, officers again conducting routine screening of passengers selected a 2001 Nissan Maxima sedan for a more thorough inspection. During their inspection, officers discovered 10 packages containing methamphetamine hidden in the rear panels of the vehicle. The total weight of the narcotics was almost 12 pounds.

The combined estimated street value of the heroin and methamphetamine is almost $500,000.00.

In both cases, the narcotics and vehicles were seized. The drivers of the vehicles were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further processing.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release

Arizona
Edith Serrano
Phone: (520) 375-5785

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