Two Arrested for Smuggling through Nogales Port
Two males, one from Mexico and the other a United States citizen, were recently arrested in separate drug-smuggling attempts through Nogales Port of Entry.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred Jorge Humberto Lopez-Ramos, 64, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for additional inspection of a GMC truck he attempted to drive through the port Tuesday morning. A CBP narcotic detection canine alerted to the vehicle’s driver-side door, where officers discovered 27.5 pounds of methamphetamine, worth an estimated $82,500.
Monday, CBP officers at the Mariposa crossing referred Christian Ortiz, 31, a U.S. citizen living in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for a further search of his Chevrolet truck. During the search, a drug detection canine alerted to the vehicle’s front and back seats where officers found 39 pounds of meth worth an estimated $117,700.
The vehicles and drugs were seized. Both subjects were referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.