2 separate arrests yield $500K of drugs

More than half a million dollars' worth of illegal drugs were seized and two men arrested Thursday during two separate incidents at the San Luis port of entry.

One incident began when 21-year-old Juan Francisco Diaz-Juarez of San Luis Rio Colorado, Son., was ordered to drive his Ford sedan into a secondary inspection area after a working dog indicated the possible presence of contraband.

Customs and Border Protection agents allegedly discovered almost 18 pounds of methamphetamine and more than two pounds of heroin stashed inside the front bumper of the vehicle. The drugs were estimated to have a combined value of $304,200.

At about the same time, 38-year-old Louis Acosta of San Luis, Ariz., was ordered to take the Jeep SUV he was driving into a secondary inspection area. After searching the vehicle with the aid of a working dog, agents allegedly discovered 20 packages of methamphetamine hidden in a modified compartment in the rear-tire wells.

The exact weight of the meth seized was not disclosed, but CBP estimated it was worth $225,000.

In each incident, the drugs were processed for seizure and the men were turned over to Homeland Security investigations.