6 arrested at Nogales ports of entry in separate drug smuggling attempts - Arizona Daily Star (blog)

Six people were arrested in recent drug smuggling attempts at the ports of entry in Nogales, federal authorities said.

During a five-day period, more than $2.2 million worth of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.

According to authorities:

• On Saturday, a 35-year-old Mexican man was taken into custody at the Mariposa Commercial facility after nearly 245 pounds of marijuana was found in compartments inside a tractor trailer. Officers also found nearly six pounds of heroin. The seized drugs were valued at about $1.5 million.

• A 26-year-old Mexican woman also was arrested on Saturday at the DeConcini port of entry when 10 pounds of methamphetamine was found within the rear bumper of her Dodge sedan. The seized  methamphetamine was valued at $154,000.

• On Tuesday, the following three drug seizures occurred at the DeConcini port of entry:

• A 23-year-old Tucson man was arrested after more than 14 pounds of methamphetamine was found in the rear bumper of his Lincoln sedan. The drugs were valued at about $221,000.

• A Mexican man, age 19, was arrested when he attempted to enter the U.S. with more than 19 pounds of cocaine in his Oldsmobile van. The cocaine was found in the van's interior rear quarter panels. The drugs were valued at about $175,000.

• A 30-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman, both from Phoenix, were taken into custody for attempting to smuggle more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine in their Chrysler van. The drugs were worth about $175,000.