Four Arrested in $1 Million Drug Bust In Phoenix

PHOENIX — Four people were arrested and charged July 30 with smuggling $1 million worth of narcotics across the U.S. border from Mexico, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 400 pounds of methamphetamine, 10 pounds of fentanyl powder, nearly 30,000 in fentanyl pills and about $55,000 in cash were found inside the vehicle.

In a statement, ICE said this was an investigation led by its Homeland Security Investigations division in partnership with other federal agencies.

“This significant seizure is a prime example of the importance of HSI partnering with federal agencies to leverage all capabilities and expertise to interdict and disrupt the flow of drugs into the U.S.” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown.

According to the statement, agents identified the Ford F-150 in question on July 23 and conducted surveillance of it on July 30 as it drove over the border on a makeshift ramp and into Phoenix. There, agents observed individuals loading the car’s content into a second vehicle. Four suspects — Luis Rendon-Espinoza, Manual Delgado-Lopez, Miguel Daniel Luna and Felicitas Saenz — were then arrested on federal narcotics charges.

ICE reported more than 67,000 convictions and charges for crimes involving drugs in 2019.