Sean McGoffin, Border Patrol Chief for Tucson, Arizona, reported that agents near Nogales, Arizona, discovered several abandoned duffel bags containing more than 160 pounds of methamphetamine. The drugs were subsequently handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for further investigation.
“Border Patrol finds and seizes 75 bricks of meth near the Border Wall east of Nogales,” said Sean Mcgoffin. “Near the International Border east of Nogales AZ, Border Patrol agents located several abandoned duffle bags containing over 160 pounds of methamphetamine. The meth was transported to the Nogales Border Patrol Station, confirmed by chemical testing, and subsequently transferred to the DEA for investigation and destruction. Great job Nogales Station!! Always vigilant!!!”
According to Chief Patrol Agent Sean McGoffin, the seizure took place east of Nogales along a section of the border known for smuggling activities. Local reports indicated that agents found the methamphetamine packaged in small cellophane-wrapped bricks during a search near the border wall. The drugs were then transported to the Nogales Border Patrol Station for testing and eventual transfer to federal partners.
The Nogales Station and the broader Tucson Sector frequently report significant methamphetamine seizures, highlighting ongoing cartel activities in southern Arizona. Earlier in 2025, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detailed an incident where Tucson Sector agents intercepted over 211 pounds of methamphetamine at the Interstate 19 checkpoint during two separate vehicle inspections over one weekend. This was cited as another example of agents’ vigilance in combating drug trafficking along this high-volume corridor.
Methamphetamine seizures at the Southwest border are part of a larger national enforcement effort. Federal drug-threat reports indicate that High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas across the country seized nearly 115 metric tons of methamphetamine in 2023, with about 53 metric tons confiscated along the Southwest border. Although there was a slight decline from previous years, CBP’s public drug seizure dashboards continue to show substantial amounts intercepted annually by both Border Patrol and port-of-entry operations.
McGoffin serves as Chief Patrol Agent for the Tucson Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, managing operations across approximately 262 miles of the Arizona-Mexico border and overseeing multiple stations including Nogales. He began his career with the Border Patrol in Tucson in 1996 and has led several sectors before returning to head Tucson, focusing on enforcement, rescue operations, and community engagement.
