CBP August Drug Seizures Total $3.2 Million
There were 11 drug interdictions made during seven days of August at Nogales international ports of entry. Seven of those drug busts (63.6%) were made during the same week.
Four types of illegal drugs were seized – heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl. The total weight of the drugs seized was 367 pounds, for an estimated combined value of $3,200,000.
The most commonly smuggled hard drug was methamphetamine, which was seized in nine of the 11 seizures. The highest value of drugs seized was cocaine, for a total value of $1,653,000 in three interdictions.
Summary and Analysis
Eleven arrests were made on seven days (22.6 % of days) in August 2018. Six of them (54.5 % of August busts) were made on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The other five (45.5 %) were made on Tuesday through Thursday of the same week. There were no border drug interdictions on Mondays in August.
Six women and five men were arrested for drug offenses. Of the 11, seven of them were identified as Mexican nationals, one was a Cuban national and three were U.S. citizens.
Nine of the seizures involved drugs hidden in a vehicle and two were what the CBP calls “body carriers,” concealing drugs in or on their body.
There were seven drug seizures and apprehensions at the DeConcini Port of Entry in downtown Nogales, Arizona; two drug seizures at the Mariposa Port of Entry; and two drug interdictions at the Morley Avenue Pedestrian Gate.
Drugs seized include:
Heroin – Three seizures for a total of 26 pounds, valued at approximately $677,000
Methamphetamine – Eight seizures for a total of 232 pounds, valued at approximately $696,000
Heroin and Methamphetamine – One seizure for 40 pounds, valued at $172,000 (combined because the press release did not specify how much of each drug was seized)
Fentanyl – One seizure for a total of approximately 2.5 ounces, valued at approximately $2,000
Cocaine – Three seizures for a total of 69 pounds, valued at approximately $1,653,000
Marijuana – There were no marijuana seizures at Nogales international ports in August
Prescription Drugs – There were no prescription drug seizures at Nogales international ports in August
August 2018 Nogales International Border Drug Busts
Friday, August 3 – Two drug seizures of $345,000 in meth and heroin
Mexican woman with 59 pounds of meth in her vehicle
A 37-year-old Mexican woman driving a Jeep SUV was referred to secondary inspection at the DeConcini Port of Entry, where a drug-detection canine alerted customs officers to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. They found and seized nearly 60 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the Jeep. The meth had an estimated value of $178,000.
American woman with 21 pounds of heroin, meth hidden in her vehicle worth $167,000
Later that day, also at the DeConcini Port of Entry, a 29-year-old female U.S. citizen was directed to secondary inspection. A narcotics-detection canine showed special interest in her Toyota sedan, and customs officers found more than four pounds of heroin valued at $116,000 and 17 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated value of $51,000.
Tuesday, August 7 – Mexican woman carrying methamphetamine in purse at Morley Gate
A 43-year-old Mexican woman walking through the Morley Pedestrian Crossing was directed for a secondary inspection, where customs officials found packages of methamphetamine in her purse and undergarments. Officials seized more than four pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated value of $13,000.
Wednesday, August 8 – Three drug seizures net more than 100 pounds of hard drugs
Mexican man with heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine concealed in vehicle
A 28-year-old male Mexican national was referred for secondary inspection at the Mariposa Port of Entry. There, a drug-detection canine tipped off customs officials to the presence of drugs in the man’s Nissan van, and they found heroin, meth and cocaine hidden in the van’s rear sliding doors.
Officers seized 20 pounds of heroin valued at $533,000; 14 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated value of $42,000; and two pounds of cocaine valued at $57,000.
Mexican woman walks two pounds of meth in her undergarments
A narcotics-detection canine paid special attention to a 19-year-old Mexican female who was walking through the Morley Pedestrian Crossing in downtown Nogales. And for good reason. Customs officers found two pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the woman’s undergarments. The drugs were estimated to have a value of $6,000.
U.S. citizen with 65 pounds of meth hidden in his vehicle
A 22-year-old American man driving a Honda sedan was referred to secondary inspection at the DeConcini Port of Entry. There, a drug-detection canine identified the presence of drugs in the vehicle and customs officers found 65 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the rear quarter panels of the sedan. The meth was estimated to have a value of $195,000.
Thursday, August 9 – Mexican man with 27 pounds of coke in his Ford SUV
A 27-year-old Mexican man driving a Ford SUV through the DeConcini Port of Entry in downtown Nogales was redirected to the secondary inspection area, where a drug-detection canine alerted customs officers to the presence of drugs. Officials then removed 27 pounds of cocaine from the SUV’s rocker panels. The coke was estimated to have a value of $643,000.
Saturday, August 11 – Two seizures net more than $1 million in hard drugs
Mexican woman tries to smuggle 40 pounds of cocaine worth $953,000
A 32-year-old Mexican woman driving a Chevrolet compact station wagon was referred to the secondary inspection area of the DeConcini Port of Entry, where a drug-detection canine alerted CBP officers to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. Customs officers then found 40 pounds of cocaine hidden in the vehicle’s bumpers. The coke was estimated to have a value of $953,000.
Mexican man busted with $93,000 of methamphetamine and heroin
A drug-detection canine prompted customs officers at the DeConcini Port of Entry to closely inspect a GMC driven by a 30-year-old Mexican man. Officials found more than nine pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle, with an estimated value of $28,000. A subsequent inspection of the vehicle’s roof yielded a discovery of more than two pounds of heroin, valued at $65,000.
Friday, August 17 – Cuban man caught with methamphetamine and fentanyl
A 39-year-old Cuban man attempting to cross the Nogales international border in a Chevrolet SUV at the DeConcini Port of Entry was directed to the secondary inspection area. There, a CBP canine pointed officers to more than 61 pounds of methamphetamine and a package of fentanyl that were concealed in the SUV’s quarter panels and dashboard. The combined value of the drugs was reported to be more than $185,000.
The press release did not specify the quantity of fentanyl seized. However, using their standard value of $3,000 per pound of methamphetamine for a total of $183,000, the value of fentanyl in the package would be valued at $2,000. And applying previous estimates of approximately 13,500 per pound, the amount of fentanyl may have been approximately 2.5 ounces.
Saturday, August 18 – American woman with heroin and methamphetamine in her vehicle
CBP officers seized more than 40 pounds of heroin and meth from a Chevrolet SUV at the secondary inspection area of the Mariposa Port of Entry. A narcotics-detection canine had signaled officers to the presence of the drugs, which were valued at more than $172,000. The press release only listed the total drug amounts and did not specify how much of each drug was seized.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) press releases