APRIL 22, 2015
Border Report
Arizona CBP Officers Seize $50K in Cocaine
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican national April 15 for attempting to smuggle $50,000 worth of cocaine through the Port of Nogales.
Officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing, assisted by a narcotics-detection canine, selected Luis Javier Guerrero-Tirado, 22, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection of his Chrysler sedan and discovered nearly five pounds of cocaine, worth more than $50,000, in the vehicle’s battery.
Officers processed the vehicle and drugs for seizure, and referred Guerrero to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Douglas CBP Officers Seize $61K in Marijuana
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican national connected to a failed attempt to smuggle marijuana April 16 through the Port of Douglas.
Officers arrested a 41-year-old man from Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, after finding eight bundles of marijuana concealed within the rear cab wall of a Mazda truck. The drugs, which were located with the help of a CBP narcotics detection canine, weigh more than 122 pounds and are worth in excess of $61,000.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and referred the subject to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Border Patrol arrests violent criminals, some committed crimes against children
Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents arrested 10 criminal aliens between March 27 and April 14 with serious criminal histories, three of which involved children. Records reveal that one man was arrested and convicted in Georgia in 2009 for keeping a place of prostitution for a person under 18 years of age.
A second subject was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison for first-degree sexual abuse after having sexual contact with an individual under the age of 11.
Another man was convicted in 1997 for committing rape with violence and great bodily injury, and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Border Patrol agents also arrested several criminal aliens from Mexico and El Salvador. Two of the individuals are members of the dangerous Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) street gang, convicted for grand larceny and first-degree burglary; and five served sentences for such crimes as felony death by a vehicle, aggravated assault with a weapon, rape, inflicting corporal injury to a spouse, domestic violence, and narcotics related charges.
In addition to enforcing immigration laws, the Border Patrol contributes to a safer America by removing dangerous criminals from the country. All individuals apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, a vital tool that ensures illegal immigrants with criminal histories are positively identified.
CBP also 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.
San Luis Man Caught with 20 pounds of Meth
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis arrested a 31-year-old man when he attempted to enter the U.S. on April 13 with more than $59,000 worth of methamphetamine in his vehicle.
Officers conducting a secondary inspection of a Chevrolet truck, driven by Victor Manuel Macedo Jr., a U.S. citizen presently living in San Luis, Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, discovered nearly 20 pounds of meth within a stereo speaker box.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and referred the subject to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Douglas CBP Officers Seize $140K in Marijuana
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a female Mexican national and two Douglas teens during separate recent attempts to smuggle marijuana through the Port of Douglas.
Officers arrested Argelia Amaya-Tajia, 44, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, on April 10 after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alert led to the discovery of 250 marijuana packages throughout her GMC SUV April 10. The drugs weighed nearly 274 pounds and are worth almost $137,000.
A CBP narcotics-detection canine also alerted officers to a 17-year-old male and female from Douglas riding bicycles. When officers inspected the bikes’ tires, they removed nearly 3.5 pounds of marijuana -- more than $1,700 worth per bike.
Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and referred the subjects to 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.
Agents Seize Marijuana, Arrest Subject with Warrants
Wellton Station Border Patrol agents working at a check point outside of Yuma encountered a male subject Monday morning with an expired Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) card and two active warrants from Yuma and Somerton, Arizona. He was processed per Yuma Sector guidelines.
In the early evening, Yuma Station Border Patrol agents detected foot prints for nine subjects illegally crossing into the United States across the Colorado River. While following the foot prints, agents discovered several bundles of marijuana wrapped in cellophane that the subjects had dropped off for pick up. However, all subjects apparently absconded back to Mexico. The marijuana, weighing a combined 183 pounds, is worth an estimated $91,500.
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.
Border Patrol agents seize over $225,000 in drugs
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents seized 24.5 pounds of methamphetamine and 218 pounds of marijuana in separate weekend incidents.
Yuma Station agents observed multiple subjects illegally cross the U.S./Mexico border along the Colorado River Friday evening and drop backpacks on the side of the levee road. Agents responded as the subjects began running back to Mexico. The backpacks contained 218 pounds of marijuana worth more than $100,000.
Saturday morning, a Yuma Sector detection canine alerted to a vehicle attempting to pass through the Interstate 8 eastbound checkpoint, east of Yuma. Agents searched the vehicle and found 12 vacuum-sealed bags of methamphetamine wrapped in foil within a non-factory compartment. The drugs are worth an estimated $123,000.
The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol. The driver, a female U.S. citizen, and drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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.
