Nogales CBP Officers Arrest Cocaine Smugglers

Narcotics worth more than $486,000

Nogales, Ariz. — Two Mexican nationals were arrested over the weekend for separate attempts of smuggling cocaine into the United States through the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry.

Customs and Border Protection officers referred a 45-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for inspection of the Plymouth van he was driving when he attempted to enter the United States Friday afternoon. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs, officers discovered 10 packages of cocaine. The drugs weighed more than 27 pounds with an estimated $247,000 value.

Sunday afternoon, officers referred a 25-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for inspection of his GMC truck when he attempted to enter the United States. After a CBP canine alerted to the presence of drugs, officers removed 10 packages of cocaine from the dashboard area. The drugs weighed more than 26 pounds with an estimated $239,000 value.

In both cases the subjects were arrested and the narcotics and vehicles were processed for seizure.

Individuals arrested may be charged by complaint, the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity, which raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.