$1M in drugs seized at Arizona border crossings this week

Posted Jan 22, 2016

Paul Ingram
TucsonSentinel.com

CBPAround 210 pounds of marijuana seized Wednesday from the interior of a Dodge van by Customs and Border Protection officers in Douglas, Arizona.
CBPNearly 540 pounds of marijuana found beneath an RV on Tuesday by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Mariposa crossing in Nogales, Arizona.

Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than $1 million in drugs at Arizona border crossings this week, authorities said.

In Nogales, CBP officers at the Mariposa crossing arrested two men Tuesday after a drug dog led them to find nearly 540 pounds of marijuana worth close to $270,000 underneath an RV, the agency said in a news release.

The driver, 36-year old Richard Lawrence Lewis of Wickenburg, and his passenger, 44year-old Shane McEntire were both arrested, CBP said.

At the Dennis DeConcini crossing in Nogales on Wednesday, a drug dog led officers to pry open the quarter panels of a Chrysler sedan where they discovered 24 pounds of methamphetamine worth an estimated $72,000.

The driver, Carla Evelin Ochoa-Arce, 21, from Nogales, Sonora was arrested, CBP said.

Thursday, officers arrested Cecelia Acosta, 41, from Nogales, Arizona, after a drug dog alerted them to the presence of drugs in her Nissan sedan. Officers uncovered 29 pounds of heroin worth more than $404,000 and almost six pounds of methamphetamine worth more than $16,000.

In Douglas, CBP officers at the Raul Hector Castor Port of Entry arrested two Mexican nationals and two Douglas residents this week for attempts to smuggle more than 650 pounds of marijuana worth a combined $325,000 through the port, the agency said.

Officers arrested Armida Medina-Gonzalez, 42, on Wednesday after an inspection of her Buick sedan led to the discovery of 249 pounds of marijuana worth nearly $125,000, the agency said.

The same day, officers arrested Douglas resident Marisol Esquer, 34, after an inspection of her Dodge van led to the seizure of more than 210 pounds of marijuana worth around $105,000.

On Thursday, CBP arrested two Mexican nationals from Cananea, Sonora, after seizing 191 pounds of marijuana worth $95,000 hidden throughout the interior and exterior of the vehicle.

Officers arrested Daniel Castillo-Aguirre, 42, and his 18-year-old passenger, Gabriel Acuna-Urias, the agency said.

CBP seized the drugs and vehicles, and handed the subjects over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.