Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a 16-year-old male on Sept. 15 after finding more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine, worth almost $10,000, inside an Xbox gaming system.
Officers referred the teen, a resident of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for further questioning when he attempted to enter the U.S. through the Morley Pedestrian crossing. Officers found the drugs after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the gaming system.
Officers seized the drugs and turned the subject over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Tucson woman busted at port with $88K in drugs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Arizona’s Port of Lukeville arrested a 37-year-old Tucson woman Sept. 15 after finding 175 pounds of marijuana, worth close to $88,000, concealed throughout her Nissan sedan.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and turned the woman over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
14 significant arrests and more than $670,000 in drugs seized throughout Yuma Sector in one day
In the early morning hours of Sept. 13, Yuma Station agents arrested Fortunato Lopez-Martinez, a 28-year-old Mexican national, for illegal entry. Lopez’s records revealed a prior conviction for attempted murder in Redwood City, Calif., in 2009, and served five years in jail before being deported.
Near Blythe, Calif., agents arrested a U.S. citizen and a pregnant woman with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status for allegedly transporting more than 13 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated value of nearly $41,000. Later, a legal permanent resident and U.S. citizen were arrested during a traffic stop after agents discovered they were transporting 38 pounds of cocaine. The drugs had an estimated value of more than $430,000.
That evening, Yuma Station agents located a stolen vehicle near the upper Colorado River area. Soon after the stolen vehicle was recovered, another vehicle attempted to speed through the Wellton Station Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8, east of Yuma, without stopping for an immigration inspection. Agents halted the vehicle without incident by spiking the tires with a controlled tire deflation device, and arrested three Mexican nationals travelling in the vehicle.
Later at the checkpoint, a legal permanent resident was referred to a secondary inspection after making conflicting statements to agents. A K-9 team alerted to the vehicle, and agents discovered and seized 65 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a false compartment of the roof. The drugs had an estimated value of nearly $200,000.
A third event at the checkpoint resulted in the arrest of four Mexican nationals illegally present in the U.S. and attempting to travel toward Phoenix.
All people, drugs, and vehicles were processed per Yuma Sector guidelines.
Douglas CBP Officers Seize Truck load of Drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers at the Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry in Douglas, Arizona, arrested a teenaged boy on Tuesday (Sept. 13) for attempting to smuggle nearly 300 pounds of marijuana into the U.S.
Officers referred a 16-year-old male presently living in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection of his Ford truck. A CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs throughout the vehicle, which led officers to approximately 284 pounds of marijuana, valued at nearly $142,000.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and turned the subject over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Woman hides heroin disguised as baby formula
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a 31-year-old Mexican national woman from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico for an unsuccessful attempt to smuggle nearly $50,000 worth of heroin through the Port of Nogales on Sept. 13.
Officers at the Morley Pedestrian crossing referred the woman, who was travelling with her 2-year-old son, for further inspection as they entered the U.S. During the search, officers found nearly three pounds of heroin packaged within a baby formula container.
The child was turned over to a family member. CBP officers seized the drugs and turned the woman 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.
