Drug smugglers kept officers busy Tuesday with three separate attempts to smuggle a combined 760 pounds of marijuana through the Port of Nogales.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry arrested a 53-year-old female Mexican national following the discovery of marijuana in her Ford truck. With the help of a CBP narcotics detection canine, officers located nearly $131,000 worth of marijuana hidden in a non-factory compartment under the entire bed of the truck.
Tuesday night, a 22-year-old Tucson male was arrested after officers located $148,000 in marijuana hidden in another Ford truck, within another non-factory compartment under the truck’s bed, again with assistance from a service canine.
In a third incident, a 65-year-old Tucson woman was arrested after officers – assisted by another canine – located more than 200 pounds of marijuana; this time, it was stashed in a Dodge SUV’s doors, roof and gas tank.
The drugs and vehicles were seized. All subjects were referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.