PHOENIX: Three Mexican nationals and two U.S. citizens were arrested in separate smuggling attempts in southern Arizona last weekend, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers said.
The seizures also netted 115 pounds of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.
On Monday, officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing told motorist David Espinoza-Maldonado, 23, of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, to prepare for further inspection. A CBP narcotics-detection dog alerted to drugs in the center floor console. Officers found more than 20 pounds of heroin worth in excess of $285,000.
On Saturday, officers at the Mariposa crossing referred a vehicle driven by Frida Catalina Ibarra-Mendez, 39, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection. A CBP detection dog alerted to drugs in a front wheel well. Officers said they found more than 32 pounds of meth worth nearly $97,000.
At the DeConcini crossing, officers referred Mayte Itzamar Rivera-Alcala, 22, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, and her 22-year-old passenger, Paola Lopez, of Sahuarita, Arizona, for further inspection of Rivera’s sedan. A dog team alerted to the vehicle’s doors, where officers found more than 18 pounds of heroin worth almost $258,000.
Later in the day, a DeConcini officer referred Ricardo Alday-Valez, 26, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection. A CBP dog alerted officers to the discovery of more than 37 pounds of heroin and a small amount of cocaine. Officers said combined, the drugs are worth an estimated $524,400.
On Oct. 9, Mariposa officers referred Salvador Alejandro Jara, 21, of Casa Grande for an additional inspection of his sedan. A canine team then alerted to the passenger door, where officers found almost seven pounds of meth worth nearly $20,000.
CBP officers seized all drugs and turned all suspects over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
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