TUCSON, Ariz. – Customs and Border Protection officers arrested three Mexican nationals and a Douglas, Arizona resident late last week for separate attempts to smuggle a combination of almost 800 pounds of marijuana through the Raul Hector Castro Port of Douglas.
Officers arrested a 28-year-old woman from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, on Dec. 8 after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted officers to the discovery of more than 190 pounds of marijuana, worth approximately $96,000, in a Ford sedan she was driving.
Officers later referred a 48-year-old Douglas woman for further inspection of her Volkswagen Beetle and, with help from a canine, found 235 pounds of marijuana worth more than $117,000.
Early Dec. 9, officers referred a 43-year-old Mexican man for an additional search of his Chevrolet truck. After a canine alert, officers found 86 pounds of marijuana from throughout the cab and spare tire. The drugs are worth $43,000.
Later in the day, a 41-year-old woman from Esqueda, Sonora, Mexico, was directed for further inspection of her Ford truck where a canine helped officers locate 270 pounds of marijuana, worth $135,000, throughout the vehicle.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicles used in the incidents, and turned over all subjects to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.