TUCSON – Willcox Border Patrol Agents, from the State Route (SR) 80 Immigration Checkpoint near Tombstone, stopped a hearse and found more than 67 pounds of marijuana concealed in a casket.
Agents working near the immigration checkpoint noticed a white hearse traveling north of Tombstone. Upon further investigation of the hearse, agents conducted an immigration vehicle stop at the intersection of Hwy 90 and Hwy 82. After several inconsistencies and based on the totality of the circumstances, a Border Patrol canine unit was requested and alerted to an odor it was trained to detect emitting from the hearse. A subsequent search of the hearse led agents to unload the casket, revealing multiple bricks of marijuana concealed within the casket worth over $33K. Also mixed within the bricks were several bags of manure in an attempt to mask the odor of the marijuana.
The hearse and drugs were seized and the driver, a 28-year-old male United States Citizen, was arrested for narcotics smuggling and is being processed per Tucson Sector guidelines for contraband smuggling,
Transnational criminal organizations use a wide range of techniques to smuggle both humans and narcotics into the United States. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Contacting the Border Patrol to report illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.
