Smugglers identified as 18-year-old residents of Rio Rico
Contributed Article/Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection
RIO RICO – U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested two teenagers attempting to smuggle cocaine, meth, and heroin near Rio Rico on Aug. 15.
Agents assigned to the Nogales Station, patrolling the desert just north of the International Border, observed several individuals emerge from the brush and load packages into a parked truck near Peña Blanca Lake. The individuals departed back into the desert as the truck drove away.
Minutes later, agents conducted a vehicle stop on a red Chevrolet Silverado located in the area. Agents discovered 57 packages of suspected meth, cocaine and heroin concealed inside the vehicle. At the Nogales Station, agents confirmed that the packages did in fact contain narcotics. The drugs totaled nearly $1,889,600 in street value.
The truck’s driver and passenger, both 18-year-old residents of Rio Rico, were arrested and ultimately turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the seized drugs, to face federal drug charges. Agents were unable to locate the individuals that emerged from the brush.
