BP thwarts smuggling tries at checkpoint

U.S. Border Patrol agents at the Wellton Station Interstate 8 immigration checkpoint made five arrests, seizing $247,000 worth of narcotics in two failed smuggling attempts over the weekend.

The first incident happened at approximately 9:40 a.m. on Saturday, when Wellton Station agents referred a white 2016 Honda Civic for secondary inspection after a Border Patrol canine was alerted to an odor.

According to information provided by agent Jose J. Garibay III of the Yuma Sector Public Affairs Office, a subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of two false compartments in the floorboard, which contained 13 packages of methamphetamine and six packages of heroin.

The methamphetamine weighed 36.9 pounds with an estimated value of $110,848, while the heroin weighed 7.8 pounds and had an estimated value of $136,108.

The driver, a 31-year-old Border Crossing Card holder from Mexico, was arrested for drug smuggling.

The second incident happened at 1 a.m. Monday when a gray 1999 Ford Explorer exited the highway and attempted to drive around the checkpoint.

An immigration stop was conducted on the vehicle, which was occupied by a driver and five passengers, including two small children. The driver, a 22-yearold Glendale resident, and two small children were U.S. citizens.

The three adult passengers were Mexican nationals unlawfully present in the United States.

The driver was arrested for human smuggling, while the three Mexican nationals were arrested for immigration violations. The children were turned over to the custody of a relative.

The contraband and both vehicles have been seized.