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Agents Find Meth, Illegal Aliens Hidden in Vehicles

Release Date
Wed, 09/20/2017

TUCSON, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents from the Nogales Station arrested five people at the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint Tuesday after finding approximately 44 pounds of methamphetamine in one vehicle and two illegal aliens in another.

Agents discovered 44 pounds of meth within the window well of a smuggling vehicle
Agents discovered 44 pounds of meth
within the window well of a smuggling
vehicle

Before 6 a.m., agents referred two men in a 1996 Ford Taurus for an additional inspection after a Border Patrol canine alerted to an odor it was trained to detect coming from the vehicle. While searching the vehicle, agents found multiple packages of methamphetamine worth an estimated $132,000. Agents arrested the driver, a 35-year-old permanent resident cardholder from Mexico, and his 37-year-old passenger, a U.S. citizen, for smuggling narcotics. Agents turned the drugs and vehicle over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for processing.

Later in the day, agents referred a 2016 Ford Fiesta for a secondary inspection when a canine altered to an odor it was trained to detect. When agents opened the car’s trunk, they found two adult males hiding inside. Agents arrested the driver, a 20-year-old Tucson woman, for human smuggling. The two men, identified as Mexican nationals, ages 34 and 20, were also arrested and are being processed for immigration violations.

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.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021