Over $1 Million in Drugs Seized by Border Patrol in Arizona Last Week

Border Patrol agents working immigration checkpoints and the surrounding areas in the Yuma Sector of Arizona have seized more than $1 million in narcotics over a four day period last week.

Agents seized more than 100 pounds of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in separate incidents that began on June 13, information received from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revealed.

Agents conducted a traffic stop on the night of June 13 near the Arizona town of Wikieup. During the stop, agents became suspicious and searched the vehicle. They discovered about ten pounds of methamphetamine. They estimated the street value of the drugs at over $29,000. The driver, a Mexican illegal alien, was arrested and the drugs were seized.

The following morning a driver described only as a Legal Permanent Resident, attempted to drive through the Interstate 8 immigration checkpoint that is located east of the city of Yuma. A K-9 agent alerted to the presence of narcotics and the vehicle was referred to a secondary inspection station. A search of the vehicle revealed what would be tested to be seventeen pounds of methamphetamine. Officials estimated these drugs to be worth more than $50,000.

Agents detected the odor or marijuana coming from a vehicle attempting to cross through the Highway 95 checkpoint. A K-9 agent conducted a walk-around search and alerted to the presence of drugs. A secondary inspection revealed over eight pounds of pure brown heroin. The drugs were valued by agents to be worth over $137,000. No information about the driver was reported by the CBP.

Later that day, a traffic stop by a K-9 Border Patrol team led to the seizure of more drugs. The agent stopped a vehicle after it was observed circumventing the inspection checkpoint by passing through Dome Valley. A preliminary search of the outside of the vehicle by the K-9 agent resulted in an alert to the presence of drugs. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of six pounds of meth valued at over $19,000. Again, no information about the driver was released by CBP officials.

A vehicle attempting to cross through the Highway 95 checkpoint on Thursday led to the discovery of the largest drug shipment of the week for the Yuma Sector agents. The vehicle, driven by a U.S. citizen, was discovered to be carrying 70 pounds of cocaine. The load was valued at an estimated $790,000.

The total for the week’s drug seizures came to $1,025,000.

“These significant drug seizures illustrate the continued threat posed by smugglers attempting to bring illegal drugs into our country,” Acting Chief Patrol Agent Mario Villarreal said in a written statement. “Due to the continued vigilance of Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents, these narcotics were removed from our community and the streets of our great Nation.”

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and is a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.