Border patrol officers at an Arizona point of entry have thwarted a significant drug smuggling attempt, resulting in the arrest of a Mexican national. The incident occurred at around 10:19 a.m. yesterday, when a 46-year-old man was attempting to cross into the United States at the Naco Port of Entry, according to a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.
In what seemed to be a routine check, the driver of the pickup truck was referred to undergo a secondary inspection. It was during this examination that authorities, with the aid of a K-9 unit, detected a hidden compartment in the vehicle's bed. As reported by AZ Family, the compartment contained 26 packages filled with methamphetamine, weighing approximately 159 pounds in total.
The narcotics seized in this operation have an estimated street value of over $167,000. Subsequent to the discovery, the individual was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations for further inquiry. However, officials with CBP have yet to disclose the man's identity.
Martin Gomez, the Area Port Director for Douglas/Naco, underscored the vigilance of border personnel in a statement, saying, "We remain steadfast in our mission to stop contraband from entering the country." He commended the CBP officers for their "frontline" role at the border, using "specialized skills to assess threats and deception attempts by the traveling public while facilitating legitimate travel," as told to AZ Family. This arrest illustrates the continuous efforts by border forces to curb the flow of illegal substances into the country.
