NEW YORK: US Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two Mexican nationals and three US citizens after they attempted to smuggle a combined $1.4 million worth of drugs in separate incidents last weekend at the Port of Nogales.
On Saturday, April 25, 38-year-old Xavier Armando Bautista-Borboa was apprehended after CBP narcotics detection canine alerted the officers at the Mariposa Commercial facility of more than 2,700 pounds of marijuana commingled within a load of bell peppers located on the Nogales, Sonora man’s tractor-trailer. The narcotics had an estimated value of over $1,360,000.
“We have to be prepared for the various forms of drug smuggling techniques,” said Nogales Port Director Guadalupe Ramirez. “In this case, through our officers efforts marijuana was found co-mingled within a load of bell peppers.”
The next day, 49-year-old Margarita Martinez was arrested after a CBP narcotics canine alerted the officers at the Mariposa crossing to 127 pounds of marijuana in her Ford sedan. The drugs were worth almost $64,000.
The officers also apprehended two southern California residents after a service canine alerted the officers to more than 168 pounds of marijuana in their Ford SUV. The contraband was valued in excess of $84,000.
All the drugs and vehicles involved were processed for seizure. The suspects were referred to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
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