iStockphoto
An 18-year-old American male was recently busted by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers trying to hide over $1 million of narcotics in his vehicle.
The male was driving a Chevrolet SUV when he applied for entry from Mexico at the San Luis I Port of Entry in Arizona when he was pulled aside by CBP officers for a secondary inspection.
Using non-intrusive technology to screen the SUV revealed anomalies throughout the vehicle, a Customs and Border Protection press release stated.
A canine unit was also called in and alerted the CBP officers to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle.
“During an extensive search of the vehicle, CBP officers discovered and extracted 140 packages of narcotics concealed within the doors, quarter panels, and floor of the vehicle,” the CBP press release stated. “Three (3) of the packages contained over seven (7) pounds of white fentanyl powder, 27 of the packages contained nearly 61 pounds of blue fentanyl pills, and 110 packages contained approximately 107.5 pounds of methamphetamine.”
The 18-year-old was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. CBP officers seized the vehicle and the narcotics with an estimated street value of $1,000,666.
“Unfortunately, this is a method of smuggling that we continue to encounter with narcotic traffickers utilizing teenagers to smuggle dangerous drugs,” stated Chris Leon, Area Port Director for San Luis. “I encourage young people to really think about what they are getting involved in and implore them to use good judgment, because ultimately there are consequences for one’s actions.”
In other drug smuggling news, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) were also busy recently when a woman attempted to travel to Atlanta from Phoenix with six vacuum-sealed bricks of alleged fentanyl worth approximately $120,000 inside her checked luggage.
She was allegedly packing six kilograms of powdered fentanyl as well as 50,000 fentanyl pills when she was busted going through a security screening.
“The hidden packages looked to be double sealed in plastic bags meant for storing food that were wrapped in tape,” KTAR News reported.
“The drugs had been packaged in a way that suggested they were meant for sale and transportation, arrest documents said.”