NOGALES, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - Customs and Border Protection officers arrested four U.S. citizens and two Mexican nationals for alleged attempts to smuggle almost 3,400 pounds of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine in Nogales.
According to a media release from Customs and Border Protection, officers referred Billy Morgan, 28, of Inglewood, California, for further inspection of his Ford Mustang on Jan. 3.
A narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs that turned out to be nearly 29 pounds of meth worth approximately $86,000.
Earlier in the day, officers referred Alexandra Renee Cox, 18, of Casa Grande, Arizona, for further inspection of her Buick sedan.
A canine alerted to the presence of drugs behind the vehicle’s rear bumper, officers found nearly 6.5 pounds of meth worth close to $19,000.
On Jan. 2, officers referred a tractor-trailer, driven by Allan Raul Hernandez-Herrera, 22, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection of a shipment of wooden furniture.
A canine team then led officers to the discovery of more than 3,300 pounds of marijuana worth about $1.65 million.
On Dec. 31, officers referred a Mitsubishi SUV for further inspection and, using a canine team, found more than 44 pounds of cocaine worth in excess of $465,000 and more than five pounds of meth valued in excess of $15,000.
Officers arrested the driver, Jacob Richard Mendez, 34, of Phoenix, and his passenger, Carolina Enriquez-Amaro, 32, a legal permanent resident alien also living in Phoenix.
On Dec. 29, officers were checking vehicles when a canine team alerted to a Saturn SUV driven by Janiel Eduardo DeLaCruz, 18, of Nogales, Arizona.
Officers searched the vehicle and found almost nine pounds of meth, worth approximately $26,000, and more than 3.6 pounds of cocaine valued at close to $38,000, all in the spare tire.
