CBP officers seize 112 pounds of fentanyl at Nogales Port of Entry

NOGALES, Ariz. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Nogales, DeConcini Crossing seized more than 112 pounds of fentanyl concealed within plastic folding chairs in the bed of a pickup truck.

On Nov. 3, CBP officers referred a 36-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a 2006 Nissan Titan, returning from Mexico, for secondary inspection. Using nonintrusive inspection technology, officers identified anomalies in folding chairs in the truck bed. A CBP canine team then alerted officers to the presence of narcotics.

A physical inspection of the chairs resulted in the discovery of more than 300 packages containing fentanyl concealed inside the chairs. The vehicle and narcotics were seized by Customs and Border Protection.

This seizure prevented more than 112 pounds of fentanyl from reaching local communities.

"This exceptional interception highlights the relentless vigilance of our frontline personnel, the immense value of our canine units, and the critical role that advanced NII technology and modernized infrastructure play in our operations," said Roque Caza, director of Field Operations for the Tucson Field Office. "We are aggressively disrupting transnational criminal networks and stopping deadly narcotics from reaching our communities."

Homeland Security Investigations special agents responded to the port of entry. The case is pending further investigation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 70,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration and trust.

• Topics
• Drug Seizure
• Fentanyl
• Office of Field Operations