Man says threatened with smuggling $ 1 million worth of crystal meth
A man claimed he was threatened in Mexico with smuggling more than $ 1 million worth of crystal meth into the United States, according to an arrest affidavit.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said they recently seized 55.73 pounds of methamphetamine at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge. The contraband was valued at over a million dollars.
Courtesy / US Customs and Border ProtectionA man claimed he was threatened in Mexico with smuggling more than $ 1 million worth of crystal meth into the United States, according to an arrest affidavit.
Luis Francisco Mercado, 46, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with importing, attempting to import and conspiring to import methamphetamine.
On December 13, Mercado arrived at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge driving a 2006 Honda Accord. During the primary inspection, Mercado made a negative statement and added that he was traveling to Austin from Monterrey.
A US customs and border protection officer observed Mercado exhibiting nervous behavior and shaking hands. Mercado then went through a secondary inspection, where an x-ray revealed abnormalities in the vehicle’s gas tank.
A K-9 unit also alerted to the smell of narcotics in the gas tank area. CBP officers removed the gas tank and discovered a hidden compartment in the tank containing approximately 55.73 pounds of crystal methamphetamine. The contraband had an estimated market value of $ 1,114,600.
Special agents of internal security investigations took charge of the case. Mercado reportedly agreed to provide them with a statement after the arrest.
“Mercado admitted that he knew the vehicle contained an unknown amount of methamphetamine. Mercado claimed that he was threatened in Mexico to smuggle the methamphetamine into the (United States) and transport it to an unknown location. in central Texas, â€the affidavit states.