CBP May Drug Seizures Total Nearly $2.1 Million
Summary and Analysis
During the month of May 2018 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made 12 arrests for alleged drug smuggling during 10 days at the Nogales international border ports of entry. Six women and six men were arrested at the border. Of the 12, five of them were identified as U.S. citizens, three were identified as being Mexican nationals, and the nationality of the other four was not provided.
Half of the total May 2018 Nogales border drug busts were “body carriers” trying to smuggle hard drugs across the border at the Morley Gate Pedestrian Crossing, at the south end of Morley Avenue in Nogales, Arizona. There were five drug seizures and apprehensions at the DeConcini Port of Entry in downtown Nogales, Arizona, and only one drug seizure reported for the month of May at the Mariposa Port of Entry.
Drugs seized include:
Heroin – Five arrests for a total of 30 pounds (all from pedestrian body carriers), valued at approximately $500,500
Cocaine – Two arrests for a total of 87 pounds, valued at approximately $1 million ($985,000)
Methamphetamine – Four arrests for a total of 169 pounds, valued at approximately $484,100
Marijuana – One arrest for a total of 221 pounds, valued at approximately $111,000
Arrests were made on approximately one of every three days (32.25% of days) of May. More than half of those (58.3%) were made on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and the other 41.7% were made on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. There were no border drug arrests on Wednesdays of May 2018.
Seven of the alleged drug smugglers were arrested at pedestrian border crossings and five were arrested after drugs were found in their vehicle.
Daily Drug Busts at the Nogales International Border in May 2018:
Tuesday, May 1 – Woman from Marana with 11 pounds of heroin
A 52-year-old woman from Marana, Arizona was caught trying to cross the border at the Morley Gate Pedestrian Crossing with nearly 11 pounds of heroin wrapped around her waist area. The drugs were valued to be worth more than $188,000.
Thursday, May 3 – 14-year-old with two pounds of meth
A 14-year-old US citizen was arrested at the Morley Gate Pedestrian Crossing with more than two pounds of methamphetamine hidden on his body. The meth was valued at more than $3,000.
Friday, May 4 – Nogales, AZ woman busted with 61 pounds of cocaine
A drug-detection canine at the DeConcini Port of Entry found almost 61 pounds of cocaine hidden adjacent to the gas tank of a Ford SUV driven by a 29-year-old woman from Nogales, Arizona. The cocaine was valued at more than $685,000.
Saturday, May 5
A 29-year-old Tucson woman was arrested at the Morley Gate Pedestrian Crossing after a drug-detection canine alerted to the five pounds of heroin wrapped around her midsection. The drugs were valued at nearly $90,000.
An 18-year-old Rio Rico, Arizona man was arrested at the Mariposa Port of Entry after a drug-detection canine alerted officials to more than 118 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in the rear quarter panels of the Ford Mustang he was driving. The meth was valued to be worth nearly $335,000.
Tuesday, May 8 – Mexican man with 221 pounds of marijuana
A 52-year-old Mexican national was arrested at the DeConcini Port of Entry after a drug-detection canine alerted officers to the scent of marijuana coming from his Ford truck. CBP officials then located more than 221 pounds of pot hidden throughout the vehicle, including inside its gas tank and a spare tire. The marijuana was valued at almost $111,000.
Friday, May 18 – 47-year-old Mexican woman with 3 pounds of meth
A 47-year-old Mexican woman was detained while attempting to cross through the pedestrian gates at the DeConcini Port of Entry. Officials then found more than three pounds of methamphetamine in her purse. The meth was valued at more than $9,100.
Wednesday, May 23 – Honduran sex offender caught by Border Patrol
Border Patrol officers apprehended a 26-year-old Honduran national Miguel Ayala-Escoto after he entered the U.S. west of Nogales, Arizona. During processing they found that he had been convicted in Tennessee in 2017 for sexual battery and deported earlier this year.
Friday, May 25 – Woman with heroin taped to crotch
A 20-year-old woman who was trying to cross the Nogales international border on foot at the Morley Gate Pedestrian Crossing was found to have nearly a pound of heroin taped to her crotch area. The drugs were valued at more than $7,500.
Saturday, May 26 – 51-year-old man with cocaine
A 52-year-old man was arrested after officials at the DeConcini Port of Entry found more than 26 pounds of cocaine hidden under the seats and floor of the Hyundai sedan he was driving. The cocaine was valued at nearly $300,000.
Sunday, May 27 – Mexican man, 46 pounds of meth in tires
A 40-year-old Mexican national was arrested at the DeConcini Port of Entry after a canine tipped off customs agents to nearly 46 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in the tires of his Chevrolet SUV. The meth was valued at more than $137,000.
Monday, May 28
A 28-year-old man was arrested at the Morley Gate Pedestrian Crossing after customs agents found nearly seven pounds of heroin that had been concealed around his midsection. The heroin was valued at nearly $114,000.
That same day, a 26-year-old woman was arrested after customs officials at the Morley Gate Pedestrian Crossing found almost six pounds of heroin wrapped around her waist. The heroin was valued at almost $101,000.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection press releases