167 Pounds of Fentanyl, Meth Seized at Arizona Interior Checkpoint

Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents seized more than 167 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl at an interior immigration checkpoint in southwest Arizona. The seizure followed an alert by a Border Patrol K-9 during the inspection.

Welton Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 8 immigration checkpoint on April 17 observed a vehicle approaching for inspection. During the initial immigration interview, a K-9 agent alerted to an odor it is trained to detect, according to information obtained from Yuma Sector Border Patrol officials. The agents directed the driver, a 60-year-old woman from Yuma, Arizona, to a secondary inspection station.

The agents conducted a physical search of the vehicle and found packages of drugs stashed throughout the vehicle. The hiding locations included the spare tire, gas tank, and both fenders, officials stated. The agents tested and weighed the drugs and found more than 164 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly three pounds of fentanyl. Officials estimated the value of the methamphetamine and fentanyl at $280,000 and $39,000 respectively.

Agents arrested the 60-year-old U.S. citizen on drug smuggling charges and seized the drugs and vehicle.

Officials did not disclose what agency would lead the drug smuggling investigation and subsequent prosecution of the suspected drug smuggler.

Earlier this month, Breitbart Texas reported that Mexican cartels are not letting up their efforts to smuggle drugs into the United States during the pandemic.

In an interview with former Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Terry Cole, Breitbart Texas reported that despite limited supply lines from China, the seizure of fentanyl remains at near-record levels.

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior news contributor for the Breitbart Texas-Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston’s What’s Your Point? Sunday-morning talk show. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Facebook.