Crime & Safety

Border Patrol Bust: Man Arrested With 51 Pounds Of Meth

Customs says a 24-year-old man from Tucson was driving a Chevrolet Impala with fozens of packages of drugs hidden inside.

A 24-year-old man from Tucson is under arrest, charged with drug smuggling, after border patrol officers found more than 51 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in his Chevrolet Impala. It happened at the DeConcini crossing at the Port of Nogales.

Border officials say that the man was trying to re-enter the United States when he was sent for a secondary inspection.

During that check, a narcotics detection dog working for Customs and Border Patrol helped officers find 48 packages of meth in the vehicle’s rear bumper, quarter panels, firewall, and roof. (For more Tucson news, subscribe to local news alerts on Patch)

Find out what's happening in Tucsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Officials say the drugs have a value of about $154,000.

"CBP officers are trained and skilled at what they do to prevent drugs from entering the country as proven in this case," said Efrain Solis, CBP Nogales Port Director.

Find out what's happening in Tucsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"While smugglers will continue to make these attempts, they will not thwart CBP's efforts. They need to know they will be caught."

The car and drugs were seized and the man taken into custody.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.