MARCH 18, 2015
Border Report
Nogales CBP Officers seize $6.2M in marijuana
Seizure is Third Largest in Port History
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Nogales Commercial Facility seized nearly $6.2 million in marijuana – 12,397 pounds – from a Mexican national Wednesday when he attempted to enter the United States through the Port of Nogales. The seizure is verified as being the third largest marijuana seizure in Arizona port history. The two largest seizures at an Arizona port took place in January (14,121 lbs.) and November of 2013 (20,375 lbs.).
Officers discovered the co-mingled load inside of a tractor trailer driven by Silvestre Tomas Camez-Mendoza, 39, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, following an alert by a CBP narcotics detection canine. The load of varied pump components contained 534 bales of marijuana inside of cardboard boxes.
The seizure represents the second co-mingled marijuana seizure in the past two days at the Mariposa Commercial Facility. Last Tuesday, officers found a nearly 2,500 pound marijuana load in a tractor-trailer driven by a 51-year-old driver from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, following a positive alert by a CBP narcotics detection canine. The 308 bundles of narcotics were co-mingled with a load of green peppers.
The seizures represent a total of nearly 14,900 pounds of marijuana, worth nearly $7.4 million dollars since Tuesday at the Port of Nogales.
Nogales Port Director Guadalupe Ramirez complimented his staff at the Mariposa Commercial Facility for the seizure.
“Our personnel are the best at what they do,” he said. “The attention to detail that is necessary to make these type of seizures is incredible. In addition to their expertise and dedication to duty, the latest in technology helps to prevent illicit cargo from entering the U.S. and our communities, while also facilitating legitimate trade and travel.”
In both cases the drivers were referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Nogales and Dennis DeConcini CBP Officers seize nearly $115K in hard drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested one Mexican national and a U.S. citizen during separate smuggling attempts at the Port of Nogales.
After officers at the Mariposa crossing referred a 44-year-old Mexican man for a secondary vehicle inspection on March 12, a CBP narcotics-detection canine helped locate nearly 8 pounds of cocaine in the dashboard, worth $79,000.
Later that day, officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing arrested a 22-year-old U.S. citizen, currently living in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, after finding 2.5 pounds of heroin in his shoes. The drugs are valued at nearly $36,000.
Officers processed the vehicle and all drugs for seizure, and referred both subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Nogales CBP Officers seize $1.2 million in marijuana
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Nogales Commercial Facility seized more than $1.2 million in marijuana – 2,476 pounds – from a Mexican national Tuesday, March 10 when he attempted to enter the United States through the Port of Nogales.
Officers found the load in a tractor-trailer driven by Sixto Hernandez-Apodaca, 51, following a positive alert by a CBP narcotics detection canine. The drugs were co-mingled with a load of green peppers. The vehicle and 308 packages of drugs were seized. Hernandez was referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Three arrested in Nogales, $116k in hard drugs seized
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested three women during two separate attempts to smuggle cocaine and methamphetamine through the Port of Nogales on March 9.
Officers at the Mariposa crossing selected a Volkswagen, driven by Claudia Yajaira Gonzalez-Romero, 26, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection. A CBP narcotics-detection canine then alerted to the presence of drugs, leading officers to find more than 8.5 pounds of cocaine, worth nearly $90,000, in the car’s dashboard.
Later that day, officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred Cynthia Bates, 50, and her passenger, Vanessa C. Martinez, 29, both of Phoenix, Ariz. for further inspection of the Chevrolet SUV. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the rear quarter panels, officers removed nine packages of meth. The drugs weighed nearly nine pounds and are valued at approximately $27,000.
Officers processed the vehicles and all drugs for seizure, and referred the three subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Border Patrol Agents assist citizens in precarious situations
Recently, a Tucson Sector Border Patrol agent extinguished flames from a vehicle that had an 18-month old child and her grandmother inside.
On March 7, at 8:30 p.m., a Border Patrol agent noticed a Dodge Durango overheating at a gas station. The agent was asking the driver if she was aware of her vehicle’s condition when flames appeared from underneath the engine compartment. The agent reacted quickly, assisting the grandmother and 18-month old child in escaping the burning vehicle. He then retrieved a fire extinguisher from his service vehicle and put out the flames. Emergency Services were notified and responded to the incident.
Later that evening, a Border Patrol agent approached a vehicle which had rolled over on I-10. He noticed an individual trapped inside and notified the fire department and emergency medical services. The rescue services and agents extracted the man from the vehicle, and a helicopter transported him to a Tucson medical facility.
Border Patrol agents frequently shift from law enforcement to rescue mode. By working with local, state, federal and tribal agencies, the Border Patrol increases the availability of emergency services available to the public.
The Border Patrol, along with Customs and Border Protection, welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.
Nogales and DeConcini crossing CBP Officers seize more than $500K in drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested three Mexican nationals as well as two Tucson women during separate smuggling attempts at the Port of Nogales.
March 7, officers at the DeConcini crossing seized a combination of cocaine and meth, when they referred a Chevrolet SUV for additional inspection. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the quarter panels of the vehicle, a 24-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico was arrested, for having nearly 17.5 pounds of cocaine and 10.5 pounds of meth within his vehicle. The cocaine is worth nearly $183,000 and the meth is worth more than $31,500.
Later that day, officers searched a Chevrolet sedan driven by a 24-year-old Tucson woman and her 24-year-old female passenger, also from Tucson, at the Dennis DeConcini crossing. The pair were arrested after officers found nearly 114 pounds of marijuana, worth nearly $57,000, under the car’s floor boards. A CBP narcotics detection canine assisted officers in locating the cargo.
Officers at the Morley Pedestrian crossing referred a 32-year-old woman for further inspection March 6. During the inspection, officers located four packages of meth around her waist area, weighing more than nine pounds and worth nearly $133,000.
Later that day, officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing arrested a, 32-year-old man, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, after locating more than 33 pounds of meth in his Chevrolet SUV. The drugs are valued at $99,500.
Officers processed all vehicles and drugs for seizure, and referred all subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Individuals arrested may be charged by complaint, the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity, which raises no inference of 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.
All CBP assets in Arizona are aligned under a unified command. Joint Field Command – Arizona unifies the Tucson and Yuma Border Patrol Sectors and Air Branches, as well as the Tucson Field Office, to enhance border security, commercial enforcement and trade facilitation missions to meet Arizona’s unique challenges. Follow them on Twitter @CBPArizona.
