Nogales CBP seizes more than $366K in hard drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a man and juvenile during separate weekend attempts to smuggle heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine through the Dennis DeConcini crossing in Nogales, Arizona.
The first incident occurred Aug. 12 when officers referred a 62-year-old man from Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico, for a secondary inspection of his Dodge truck and discovered multiple packages of narcotics within the cab’s back. The packages contained more than 5 pounds of heroin, worth more than $94,000; more than 15 pounds of cocaine, worth in excess of $171,000; and more than 20 pounds of meth, valued in excess of $60,000.
On Aug. 15, officers referred a 16-year-old for further inspection as she entered the U.S. through the DeConcini pedestrian lanes. The search revealed more than 2 pounds of heroin, worth almost $40,000, within her brassiere.
Officers seized the vehicle and narcotics, and turned both subjects over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Federal law allows officers 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 and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
CBP’s Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.
Douglas CBP Officers seize $86K in marijuana
Customs and Border Protection officers at the Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry in Douglas, Arizona, arrested a 23-year-old woman from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, for attempting to smuggle 172 pounds of marijuana into the United States on Aug. 15.
After officers referred the woman for a secondary inspection of her Dodge sedan, a CBP narcotics-detection canine helped officers locate multiple packages of marijuana, with a combined value of $86,000, from various interior and exterior areas of the vehicle.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and turned the subject over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Woman attempts to smuggle pork in baby diapers
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agricultural specialists at the Port of Nogales’ Mariposa crossing seized more than 14 pounds of pork found in a suitcase…wrapped in diapers…while inspecting a commercial bus Aug. 5 that had entered the U.S. from Sinaloa, Mexico.
After the suitcase’s owner was assessed a $300 penalty, the bus and its passengers proceeded through the port without further incident. The seized pork and diapers were destroyed by incineration.
“Agriculture specialists in Nogales are always observant to prevent the introduction of prohibited agricultural products,” said Nogales Area Port Director Luz Garlarza. “This includes pork meat and pork products, which could lead to the introduction of animal diseases like Classical Swine Fever.”
CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States. Their mission includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases. CBP would like to remind travelers to declare all agricultural items upon their arrival to the U.S. to help agricultural specialists prevent the introduction of harmful pests and diseases. To learn more about permissible and prohibited food items, visit https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/agricultural-items.
