Border Patrol agents seized over 50 pounds of methamphetamine and arrested a U.S. citizen when he attempted to smuggle the drugs through a Yuma Sector traffic checkpoint, Wednesday afternoon.
The man was attempting to pass through the immigration checkpoint on I-8 east of Yuma in a silver Ford F-150 when agents requested permission to perform a non-intrusive search of his vehicle. After moving the truck to secondary inspection, agents conducted a consensual search of the vehicle and discovered 50 pounds of methamphetamine concealed inside its doors. The drugs were valued in excess of $150,000.
The suspect, narcotics, and vehicle were processed per Yuma Sector guidelines.
Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless or until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents effectively combat smuggling organizations attempting to illegally transport people and contraband through southwestern Arizona and California. Citizens can help the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll-free to report suspicious activity. Callers can remain anonymous.
Yuma Border Patrol agents seize methamphetamine at I-8 checkpoint
Border Patrol agents arrested a Mexican national attempting to smuggle narcotics through a Yuma Sector traffic checkpoint Tuesday morning.
The driver of a Dodge van was attempting to pass through the immigration checkpoint on Interstate 8, east of Yuma, when he was asked permission for agents to perform a non-intrusive search of the vehicle. After referring the vehicle to secondary inspection, a Border Patrol canine alerted to the rear quarter panels of the van. Agents searched further and discovered 19 pounds of concealed methamphetamine. The drugs were valued in excess of $57,000.
The suspect, narcotics, and vehicle were processed per Yuma Sector guidelines.
CBP Officers nab three women for smuggling drugs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis arrested three women during two weekend drug-smuggling attempts involving marijuana and methamphetamine.
Officers first arrested a 30-year-old Yuma woman July 15 after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the back flooring area of a Mazda sedan she was driving. Officers searched the vehicle and found 28 pounds of methamphetamine, valued at approximately $85,000.
On July 17, a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted officers to a Dodge sedan occupied by a 19-year-old driver from Pasadena, California and her 21-year-old passenger. Officers searched the vehicle and found more than 300 pounds of marijuana, valued in excess of $150,000, in the vehicle’s trunk.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicles, and turned the women over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
