MARCH 25, 2015
Border Report
Lukeville CBP Officers seize $93K in marijuana
TUCSON – A 16-year-old girl from Glendale, Arizona and her two female passengers, ages 23 and 24, were arrested March 22 for attempting to smuggle 185 pounds of marijuana through the Port of Lukeville.
After U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers referred the driver of a Volkswagen sedan and her passengers for a secondary inspection, a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs. Officers then located and removed 12 packages of marijuana worth an estimated $92,550.
Officers processed the drugs and vehicle for seizure, and referred the three subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
CBP Officers seize more than $513,000 in drugs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Nogales seized more than $513,000 in marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine during separate smuggling attempts since March 20.
On March 20, officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred a 21-year-old Chandler, Arizona man for further inspection of his Dodge sedan. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs, officers removed 14 packages of marijuana weighing more than 25 pounds and valued at nearly $13,000.
At about the same time, DeConcini officers referred a 38-year-old male Mexican national for additional inspection of his Ford van and found nearly 35 pounds of meth valued at more than $104,000.
Earlier that day, DeConcini officers referred a 31-year-old Rio Rico, Arizona man for further inspection of his Ford SUV. During the inspection, a canine helped officers locate nearly 191 pounds of marijuana valued at more than $95,000.
Also on Friday, officers at the Morley Pedestrian crossing referred a 13-year-old Nogales, Arizona girl for a search and located four packages of methamphetamine taped to her upper and lower body. The drugs weight was nearly 2.25 pounds and worth more than $6,700.
On March 21, officers at the Mariposa crossing referred a 34-year-old Mexican man for an additional search of his Chevrolet truck. A canine alerted officers to the presence of drugs in the rear of the vehicle that turned out to be more than 25 pounds of cocaine valued at nearly $263,000.
At about the same time, officers at the DeConcini crossing referred a 36-year-old Tucson woman for further inspection of her Hyundai where a canine alerted to drugs within the vehicle’s quarter and rocker panels. Officers removed 14 packages of marijuana weighing more than 63 pounds and valued at nearly $32,000.
Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and referred the subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Douglas CBP Officers seize $306K in marijuana
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two Mexican nationals and a Douglas, Ariz. teen during separate marijuana smuggle attempts through the Port of Douglas on March 18.
Officers referred Carlos Enrique Noperi-Nallares, 18, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection of his Saturn SUV and, using a narcotics-detection canine, found nearly 308 pounds of marijuana throughout the vehicle worth almost $154,000.
A few hours earlier, a service canine alerted officers to a Ford sedan belonging to Rosa Alejandra Mejia-Rico, 21, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. Officers searched the vehicle and found more than 282 pounds of marijuana worth approximately $141,000.
Yesterday morning, a 17-year-old Douglas teen lost his Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) privileges after officers found more than 22 pounds of marijuana within the spare tire of his Volkswagens. The drugs are valued at more than $11,000. The teen’s Global Entry Card was revoked based on trusted traveler requirements.
Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and referred both subjects to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Douglas Port Director Margaret Baldenegro addressed the recent number of drug seizures. “Drug smugglers can be quite innovative in their attempts to bring drugs into our nation,” she said. “It’s important to note that our people have technology that makes it tougher than ever for criminals to be successful.”
San Luis CBP Officers seize $104K in meth
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a San Luis, Sonora, Mexico, man and a teen from San Luis, Arizona on Wednesday, March 18 after finding nearly 35 pounds of methamphetamine in separate seizures at the Port of San Luis.
Officers selected the 24-year-old man for further inspection of his Ford SUV when he attempted to enter the United States. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of narcotics, officers found 30 packages of meth valued at nearly $103,000 within the vehicle’s spare tire.
Earlier that morning, officers referred a 17-year-old male for further inspection of his Toyota sedan. During the inspection, a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of more than half a pound of meth hidden under the front seats. The drugs have a value of $1,650.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicles, and referred both subjects 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.
