JUNE 3, 2015
Weekly Arizona Border Report
Lukeville CBP Officers Seize $230K in Marijuana
Honeymooners attempted to smuggle drugs through port
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Phoenix couple for attempting to smuggle nearly 461 pounds of marijuana through the Port of Lukeville on May 31.
Officers referred Matthew Scott Carlill, 31, and his 33-year-old bride, for a secondary inspection of their Chevrolet SUV. The couple told officers they were returning from Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico, where they were on their honeymoon. A CBP narcotics-detection canine then alerted officers to the trailer they were towing, where they found 22 packages of marijuana, weighing nearly 461 pounds and worth more than $230,000.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and referred Carlill to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, while the female subject was released without further incident.
Nogales CBP Officers Seize $41K in Meth
Customs and Border Protection officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing arrested Cecilia Ana Miranda, 38, of Tucson, after finding 11 packages of methamphetamine in her Honda sedan on May 31.
A narcotics-detection canine alerted officers to nearly 14 pounds of meth, valued at more than $41,000, concealed in the vehicle’s firewall.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and referred Miranda to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Douglas CBP Officers Seize $159K in Marijuana
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two Mexican nationals during separate incidents May 28 at the Port of Douglas.
Officers arrested Miravel Obdulia Amaro-Dominguez, 41, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, after an inspection of her Chevrolet SUV led to the discovery of more than 200 packages of marijuana throughout the vehicle weighing nearly 239 pounds and worth more than $119,000.
A short time earlier, officers arrested Isidro Quezada-Galaz, 70, a legal permanent resident alien residing in Phoenix, after an inspection of his Ford SUV led to the discovery of 92 packages of marijuana concealed in a wire spool weighing more than 79 pounds and worth almost $40,000.
Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and referred both subjects to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Nogales CBP Officers Seize $261K in Hard Drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican man and a Phoenix woman Thursday for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than $261,000 in methamphetamine and cocaine during separate incidents at the Port of Nogales.
Officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing arrested Isidro Valazquez-Valenzuela, 22, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the Mazda SUV he was driving. During a secondary inspection, officers located nearly 25 pounds of cocaine, worth in excess of $258,000, within the vehicle’s quarter panels.
Later in the day, officers at the Morley pedestrian crossing referred Rebekah Megan Ramos, 24, for inspection as she attempted to enter the United States. Officers searched the woman and found more than a pound of meth, worth about $3,300, concealed under her clothing.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and referred both subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
CBP Officers Seize $210K in Hard Drugs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis arrested a local man Thursday for an alleged attempt to smuggle more than 35 pounds of drugs valued in excess of $210,500.
Officers referred Manuel Vega, a 26-year-old San Luis resident, for a secondary inspection of his Honda SUV. During the inspection, a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs within the dashboard. As a result, officers found 56 packages containing nearly 9.5 pounds of heroin and almost 26 pounds of methamphetamine.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and referred Vega to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Douglas CBP Officers Seize $121K in Marijuana
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican man during a failed smuggling incident May 26 at the Port of Douglas.
Officers arrested Marcos Rios-Leon, 23, of Nacozari de Garcia, Sonora, Mexico, after an inspection of his Ford trucks bed led to the discovery of 41 packages of marijuana weighing nearly 243 pounds and worth more than $121,000.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and referred Rios to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Nogales CBP Officers Seize $1.33M in Drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested four Mexican nationals and two U.S. citizens connected to separate smuggling attempts of hard drugs during the past five days at the Port of Nogales.
Officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred Marjorie Quinones, 51, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for a secondary inspection of her Jeep SUV on May 21. When a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs, they found more than 21 pounds of methamphetamine, worth in excess of $64,000, and nearly four pounds of heroin worth more than $53,000.
On May 22, officers at the DeConcini crossing referred Gerardo Felipe Vazquez-Ramos,
56, and his passenger, Cesar Ernesto Canez-Felix, 57, both of Cajeme, Sonora, Mexico, for an inspection of a Ford SUV. After a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to underneath the rear seats, officers removed 16 packages of cocaine weighing more than 42.5 pounds and valued at more than $444,000.
Earlier on the 22nd, officers at the Mariposa crossing referred Oscar Ledezma-Ortiz, 51, a legal permanent resident alien living in Glendale, Arizona, for further inspection of his Toyota sedan. After a canine alert to the presence of drugs within the vehicle, officers removed 10 packages of cocaine weighing more than 25 pounds and valued in excess of $264,500. They also found two packages containing nearly five pounds of heroin valued at more than $67,500.
A day later, officers at the DeConcini crossing referred Angelita Garibaldi, 50, of Tucson, for further inspection of her Oldsmobile van. A narcotics-detection canine alerted officers to nearly 22 pounds of cocaine valued at almost $227,000.
On May 24, officers at the DeConcini crossing referred Juan Carlos Lopez-Garcia, 22, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for a further search of his Volkswagen. After a narcotics team detected drugs within the vehicle’s undercarriage, officers removed 11 packages of methamphetamine weighing more than 10 pounds, worth more than $31,000, and nine packages of heroin -- nearly 13 pounds – worth almost $180,000.
Officers processed all drugs and vehicles for seizure, and referred the subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Smuggling attempt averted, $25,000 in cash as well as drugs seized, robbery suspect arrested
Several events occurred over Memorial Day weekend involving Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents. These successes clearly demonstrate the continued effort by Yuma’s law enforcement community to keep the Yuma County safe.
Friday, a U.S. Citizen was arrested for smuggling five illegal immigrants through Dome Valley. The driver will be prosecuted for alien smuggling, and all five subjects will be processed per Yuma Sector guidelines.
Friday night, an immigration inspection of a Greyhound Bus in Blythe, Calif. resulted in the seizure of $25,000 from a female Legal Permanent Resident Card holder. The female had the cash taped to her waistline. She claimed she was just transporting the money. The currency was seized as per Yuma Sector guidelines and the female was released.
Saturday, four abandoned bundles of marijuana were discovered and seized north of Gila Bend and Interstate 8. The total weight was 185 pounds, with an estimated value of $92,500.
Later Saturday, Yuma Police Department requested assistance in their attempt to locate a male suspect wanted in conjunction with a robbery at the Walmart Store on 32nd Street. The male subject was encountered at the I-8 checkpoint by a Border Patrol detection canine handler.
The canine alerted to the subject’s vehicle, which was then placed in secondary for further inspection. A search of the vehicle resulted in the location of methamphetamine, as well as stolen goods. The driver and vehicle were turned over to Yuma Police Department.
Sunday, a Border Patrol detection canine assigned to the Interstate 8 checkpoint alerted to the exterior of a recreational vehicle. A search of the RV revealed 43 grams of heroin, 25 grams of cocaine, two plastic medicine bottles containing unknown pills, two weight scales, three syringes, and multiple articles of drug paraphernalia. One hundred fourteen grams of marijuana was also found outside the safe. The drugs were worth an estimated $7,295. The illegal contraband, driver and vehicle were all turned over to the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force.
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.
Nogales CBP Officers Seize $996K in Marijuana
Drugs hidden in roof of produce load
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Mariposa Commercial Facility seized nearly $996,000 in marijuana – 1,992 pounds – from a Mexican national Saturday when he attempted to enter the United States through the Port of Nogales.
Officers discovered the marijuana within the roof of a tractor-trailer driven by Joel Tautimez-Felix, 43, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, following an alert by a CBP narcotics-detection canine. The load contained 212 packages of marijuana concealed within the roof of the trailer.
Officers seized the drugs, tractor-trailer and produce, and referred Tautimez to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Tucson Sector Border Patrol honors fallen agents
The Tucson Sector Border Patrol honored their agents who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country at the Valor in the Desert event on Thursday morning.
Agents from across the Tucson Sector spent the morning honoring the 12 Tucson Sector agents who have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1926. Families of the fallen agents were invited to Tucson Sector Headquarters to attend a private ceremony celebrating the lives of their loved ones. Personnel from the eight Border Patrol stations in the sector attended the ceremony.
After the ceremony, the Tucson Sector Honor Guard Drill Team performed the silent drill routine that they performed during National Police Week in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. Their routine was choreographed to honor the sacrifices made by fallen agents on behalf of the American public.
During his remarks at the memorial ceremony, Chief Manuel Padilla Jr. stated, “Their commitment to this country was something real that they lived each and every day. Today it is our turn to show our unending gratitude during this valor in the desert memorial.”
Since the inception of the Border Patrol on May 28, 1924, the men and woman serving the country have been prepared to sacrifice their own lives in the line of duty. The motto of the Border Patrol is “Honor First,” a tradition to which all agents aspire while protecting the homeland.
CBP 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.
Border Patrol Agents play multi-faceted roles during daily operations
Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents recently arrested a previously deported rapist, rescued undocumented migrants, and seized drugs at a local checkpoint.
On May 13, agents from the Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station arrested Leonel Rayo-Herrera, a Mexican national previously removed from the U.S. for statutory rape of a minor and sexual battery. Agents are processing the subject in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines.
On May 17, agents from the substation in Three Points, Arizona initiated a search for two individuals who called 911 in distress after illegally crossing the border. When agents arrived at their location, one of the subjects complained of pain in his left knee. A Border Patrol EMT examined the man’s injury and determined he needed further medical attention. Agents then transported the subject to a local hospital.
Also on May 17, agents at the State Route 86 checkpoint near Three Points seized 1,006 pounds of narcotics after a Border Patrol canine alerted to a Chevrolet truck carrying bricks of marijuana hidden in several compartments under the truck’s bed and in the cab. Agents arrested the driver, a U.S. citizen now charged with drug smuggling. The DEA will take possession of the marijuana, worth in excess of $450,000.
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.
Border Patrol agents have a vital mission to secure the homeland. In accomplishing this mission, they often encounter undocumented migrants needing to be rescued or urgent care. Agents then quickly shift from law enforcement officers to humanitarians. Seizing drugs, searching for lost migrants, and arresting criminals are all part of the Border Patrol’s daily operations.
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.
