U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Lukeville arrested an Arizona man for attempting to smuggle approximately 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl across the Arizona-Mexico border.
According to a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Phoenix man loaded 880 pounds of meth and 110 pounds of fentanyl in his Roadmaster RV; however, the drugs were detected by a narcotics canine.
“Monday morning, CBP officers at the Port of Lukeville referred a 47-year-old Phoenix man for additional inspection of his 2008 Roadmaster RV as he attempted to enter the U.S. Following a positive alert by a CBP narcotics detection canine to a scent it is trained to detect, the search led to the discovery of 129 packages of drugs hidden within the roof-mounted A/C unit. The drugs were determined to be a combination of methamphetamine and fentanyl, worth nearly $4.4 million dollars,” the press release explained.
The suspect was placed into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Over the past year, the country has witnessed an increase in illegal drug trafficking – specifically, involving fentanyl. There were more seizures of fentanyl in 2021 than any previous year in recent times.
“Our CBP officers remain focused on their mission of protecting our nation’s borders and keeping dangerous drugs from reaching our communities,” added Port Director Peter Bachelier.
Previously, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey met with 11 different sheriffs from across the state to discuss efforts to secure the U.S. southern border, encouraging action from the federal government.
One piece of proposed federal legislation, known as the Fentanyl Trafficker Elimination Act, would establish life sentences for individuals convicted of intentionally trafficking fentanyl or fentanyl analogues. According to the nonprofit Families Against Fentanyl, the drug is the number one killer of individuals ages 18 to 45.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
