Federal authorities seized nearly $1.7 million in two separate drug smuggling attempts in Nogales, Arizona on Saturday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two people in the incidents, according to a news release Monday.
In the first incident, a 50-year-old woman from Culiacan, Sinaloa attempted to smuggle 88 pounds of heroin worth about $1.5 million, authorities said. The woman also attempted to smuggle eight pounds of cocaine valued at more than $90,000.
She was detained at the Mariposa crossing and the drugs were found in her Hyundai SUV with the help of drug-sniffing dogs, said officials.
The heroin seizure was the second largest by Customs and Border Protection officers from the Tucson Field Office, said authorities. The largest heroin seizure — 101 pounds that was worth more than $1.76 million — occurred in October 2000 at the San Luis port of entry, said officials.
In the second incident Saturday, officers seized more than 30 pounds of methamphetamine at the Dennis DeConcini crossing. It was valued at more than $96,000.
The drugs were found in a Ford SUV that was driven by a 56-year-old man who lived in Willcox.
The vehicles also were seized and both suspects were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations.
