Ports and Border: SENTRI lane user caught with $1.2M in cocaine | Local News Stories

• CBP officers at the DeConcini SENTRI lane referred a 28-year-old Mexican woman for further inspection of her Dodge sedan. After a drug-sniffing dog alerted to a scent it was trained to detect, officers discovered nearly two dozen packages concealed within the vehicle’s rocker panels. The packages contained nearly 51 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of in excess of $1.2 million.

• A 36-year-old Nogales, Sonora woman was sent for further inspection of her Nissan sedan at the Mariposa Port of Entry. Aided by a drug-sniffing dog, officers removed multiple packages from beneath the vehicle’s seats. The contents were determined to be a little more than 61 pounds of methamphetamine, worth more than $183,000. They also seized nearly four pounds of fentanyl, worth $53,000.

• CBP officers at the Mariposa pedestrian crossing referred a pair of Mexican sisters, ages 20 and 22, for further questioning. After a drug-sniffing dog alerted to the presence of a scent it was trained to detect, a search of the women revealed that they had each concealed a package of drugs inside their bodies. The packages were determined to contain almost a pound of fentanyl pills, worth more than $13,000.

• A 30-year-old Nogales man was sent for further inspection when he attempted to enter the country through the DeConcini port. When officers searched his belongings, they found a package of drugs inside of his backpack. The contents were identified as .008 pounds of fentanyl, with an estimated value of more than $100.

• A 29-year-old Mexican man was referred for further inspection of his Chevy SUV at the DeConcini port. A drug-sniffing dog then lead officers to more than 100 packages of methamphetamine hidden the quarter panels and tailgate. The drugs weighed more than 108 pounds and had an estimated value of more than $324,000.

• Rodrigo Castillo Alvarez, a 45-year-old Mexican national wanted in his home country for sexual abuse or rape of a child under the age of 12, was handed over to Mexican federal police at the DeConcini port by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations. The Attorney General’s Office in Sonora, Mexico issued a warrant on Jan. 2 against Alvarez (a.k.a. Oscar Castillo or Alfonso Castillo Delgado) for the offenses of sexual abuse or rape of a child and child molestation. He was alleged to be one of two predators who assaulted the child.

Alvarez came into ICE custody April 23 following his arrest by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office on drug and money laundering charges.

• CBP officers at the DeConcini port referred a 29-year-old Mexican man for further inspection when he attempted to enter the country from Mexico. After a drug-sniffing dog alerted to a scent it is trained to detect, officers searching his Nissan sedan located packages of drugs within all four doors of the vehicle. The packages were identified as nearly 51 pounds of meth, with an estimated value of more than $152,000.