CBP Officers in Southern Arizona Seize Meth, Heroin Valued at $529,000

San Luis, Ariz. – Two men were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in separate incidents yesterday for attempting to smuggle methamphetamine and heroin into the United States. 

Juan Francisco Diaz-Juarez, 21, of San Luis, Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico was arrested after officers found nearly 18 pounds of methamphetamine and more than two pounds of heroin – with a combined value of $304,200 – inside his vehicle. The seizure took place after Diaz was referred for a secondary search of his Ford sedan and a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs inside his front bumper.

At about the same time, officers referred Louis Acosta, 38, of San Luis, Ariz., for a secondary inspection of his Jeep SUV. A service canine alerted to a modified compartment in the rear-tire wells, resulting in the discovery of 20 methamphetamine packages valued at $225,000.

In each incident, the drugs were processed for seizure and the subjects were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcements’ Homeland Security Investigations. 

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.

The Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Customs and Border Protection tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

All CBP assets in Arizona were realigned under a unified command structure in February 2011. Joint Field Command – Arizona unifies the Tucson and Yuma Border Patrol Sectors and Air Branches, as well as the Tucson Field Office, to enhance border security, commercial enforcement and trade facilitation missions to meet Arizona’s unique challenges. Follow us on Twitter @CBPArizona or visit cbp.gov/Arizona for more information.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with 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.