The Mexican Army seized 1,055 pounds of methamphetamine Friday near the Arizona border, adding to the number of significant drug busts in the last 30 days.
This most recent seizure took place on September 14 at approximately 6:25 pm when elements of the Mexican Army and Sonora State Police (PESP) responded to the outskirts of Caborca based on a lead regarding drug activity at a remote landing strip, according to local media reports.
Authorities observed a 2002 Jeep Cherokee on a remote highway heading into Caborca. The Jeep was occupied by two passengers with a rifle in the cabin. Several large, white sacks were in the back compartment of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, investigators discovered a total of 18 sacks carrying 756 plastic bags containing a substance consistent with methamphetamine or “cristal” as it is locally known.
The two males were identified as Andres B.F., 31, and Ivan O.G., 32, were both from Caborca. A search of the vehicle produced ammunition in various calibers, magazines, $18,000 pesos ($955.00 USD), and $1,000 USD to include six counterfeit U.S. $20 bills. The total weight of methamphetamine seized came out to 1,055 pounds (478.5 kilograms).
Investigators determined the methamphetamine arrived in the area via small airplane and was loaded into the Jeep bound for Caborca, according to a statement released by the Mexican Army. The two suspects were handed over to investigators for the federal prosecutor’s office. The methamphetamine is believed to be originally destined for the U.S. drug market–given Caborca’s location and the Sinaloa Cartel’s local smuggling operation into Arizona.
Northern Mexican areas around California and Arizona are witnessing a rash of high-profile drug busts.
The Mexican Army made two seizures in Ensenada on August 17 (1,036 pounds of meth, heroin, and fentanyl) and August 18 (1,653 pounds of meth, fentanyl, and marijuana).
The Mexican Army discovered an active drug lab on August 25 in Tecate and seized four tons of methamphetamine.
The Mexican Federal Police seized 350 pounds of methamphetamine in an active drug lab in Tijuana on August 26.
The Mexican Federal Police seized 20,000 fentanyl pills in an active lab in Mexicali on September 10.
The Mexican Federal Police seized 550 pounds of methamphetamine in Tijuana on September 12.
Robert Arce is a retired Phoenix Police detective with extensive experience working Mexican organized crime and street gangs. Arce has worked in the Balkans, Iraq, Haiti, and recently completed a three-year assignment in Monterrey, Mexico, working out of the Consulate for the United States Department of State, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Program, where he was the Regional Program Manager for Northeast Mexico (Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Durango, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas.) You can follow him on Twitter. He can be reached at robertrarce@gmail.com
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