JULY 1, 2015
Weekly Arizona Border Report
Another failed smuggling attempt to circumvent checkpoint
Thursday morning, a U.S. citizen was arrested for transporting three illegal Mexican immigrants through Dome Valley in an apparent effort to avoid the Border Patrol checkpoint located on Interstate 8. The driver originally picked the Mexican nationals up in California after they had illegally crossed into the U.S. He then unsuccessfully attempted to transport them further into the interior of the United States.
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 train to save lives
128 people rescued as heat rises
Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents recently completed training in a variety of life saving techniques specific to the remote desert environment.
Border Patrol agents from El Centro, El Paso and Tucson sectors attended a 50-hour Basic Tactical Medic Course from June 22-26. Throughout the week, agents participated in scenarios that included a variety of field techniques, such as administering IVs while transporting patients, applying tourniquets to patients while under fire, and carrying patients to safety.
“This training enables BORSTAR (Border Patrol’s Search, Trauma and Rescue team) to go into situations that normal EMS aren’t trained to deal with,” said Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Michael F. Friedrich. “It’s a necessary skill set. It’s law enforcement specific, based on the military’s tactical combat casualty care. It teaches people how to use their civilian-taught skill set in tactical situations.”
All agents in attendance are certified emergency medical technicians and are part of the Border Patrol’s Special Operations Group, which includes BORSTAR.
In separate training, other agents from various stations throughout Tucson Sector, as well as other law enforcement members, learned life-saving techniques in preparation to become nationally certified EMTs. The eight-week course, hosted by Tucson Sector Border Patrol, consists of classroom learning and live scenarios that teach techniques specific to Arizona’s border environment.
Hands-on, scenario-based training helps agents prepare to rescue anyone they find injured while traveling across southern Arizona. With temperatures reaching over 100 degrees in the Sonoran desert, migrants often find themselves in distress and need emergency medical attention. So far, since temperatures started hitting 100 degrees and higher, Tucson Sector agents have rescued 128 individuals.
The Tucson Sector Border Patrol allocates a large number of resources to rescue individuals in distress, resulting in fewer deaths among the illegal immigrants entering the sector. These resources include a network of rescue beacons, BORSTAR, more than 250 EMTs and over 4,000 agents trained as first responders.
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.
Nogales CBP Officers seize $344K in hard drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican man last Tuesday for an alleged attempt to smuggle more than $344,000 in heroin and cocaine at the Port of Nogales.
Officers at the Mariposa crossing arrested a 40-year-old resident of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the Saturn sedan he was driving. During a secondary inspection, officers located nearly three pounds of cocaine, worth close to $28,000, and more than 22 pounds of heroin almost $317,000.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, arrested the subject and turned him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Douglas CBP Officers seize $108K in marijuana
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Douglas resident during a failed smuggling incident June 23 at the Port of Douglas.
Officers arrested Richard V. Cota, 19, after an inspection of his Chevrolet sedan led to the discovery of nearly 216 pounds of marijuana throughout the vehicle worth almost $108,000.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, arrested and turned Cota over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Another ultralight smuggling attempt botched
An ultralight aircraft was seen flying west over a county street toward Mexico late Monday.
Shortly after, a Border Patrol agent attempted to stop a pickup truck in the same area. The truck slowed but never stopped as the driver jumped out, allowing the vehicle to continue rolling.
The agent then parked his service vehicle, chased the truck on foot, jumped in and brought the truck to a safe stop. While the agent was busy stopping the vehicle, the driver disappeared into the night.
In the bed of the truck, the agent found several bundles of marijuana in the same quantity dropped from an ULA Friday night -- 219 pounds worth an estimated $109,500.
The marijuana and vehicle were processed for seizure in accordance with Yuma Sector guidelines.
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.
Ultralight aircraft observed dropping drugs into U.S.
Border Patrol agents observed an ultralight aircraft fly into the United States late Friday and drop several bundles of marijuana over a secluded area before flying back to Mexico.
Agents then stopped a vehicle leaving the area and discovered three individuals inside with 219 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $109,500.
Agents processed all three individuals, drugs and vehicle in accordance with Yuma Sector guidelines.
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.
CBP Officers seize $70K worth of meth
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a 22-year-old San Luis, Arizona woman on June 19 for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 23 pounds of methamphetamine through the Port of San Luis.
Officers referred Suzette Escobedo for a secondary inspection of her Nissan sedan as she attempted to enter the United States. After a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the fuel tank, officers removed packages of meth worth nearly $70,000.
Officers seized the drugs and referred Escobedo to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
CBP Officers seize $121K in methamphetamine
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican man on June 19 for allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly $121,000 in methamphetamine through the Port of Nogales.
Officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing arrested Felizardo Olivares-Larios, 48, of Cajeme, Sonora, Mexico, after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the Nissan SUV he was driving. During a secondary inspection, officers located more than 40 pounds of meth within a non-factory compartment in the vehicle’s dashboard area.
The seizure comes just a day after officers seized 18 pounds of meth from smugglers using a similar method in an attempt to get past port officers.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and referred Olivares 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.
