JULY 29, 2015
Weekly Arizona Border Report
Consecutive Smuggling Attempt Intercepted, $225,655 Seized
Separate events Sunday morning included another smuggling attempt through Dome Valley and the seizure of nearly a quarter million dollars.
Border Patrol agents foiled yet another attempt to smuggle illegal immigrants through Dome Valley Sunday morning during an effort to circumvent the Wellton Station’s checkpoint on Interstate 8. Agents arrested three U.S. Citizens, a 21-year-old female, a 35 and 33 year old males, and two illegal immigrants, both Mexican national males. The three U.S. Citizens are being presented for prosecution for alien smuggling.
A Yuma Sector Border Patrol canine team alerted and located 57 grams of marijuana, 172 grams of hash, 700 milligrams of cannabis oil, drug paraphernalia, and $225,655 U.S. currency, while attempting to travel through Blythe Station’s checkpoint on California Highway 78.
The vehicles, drugs, paraphernalia, U.S. currency, and all subjects will be processed per Yuma Sector guidelines.
Aggravated felon-sex offender arrested illegally entering the U.S.
On Monday evening last week, Border Patrol agents arrested two illegal immigrants attempting to enter the United States along the Colorado River. One of the individuals previously had been removed as an aggravated felon. He is a registered sex offender and also had an active extraditable warrant out of Los Angeles, Calif.
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.
Lukeville CBP Officers Seize $134K in Cocaine
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Phoenix woman for allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly 13 pounds of cocaine through the Port of Lukeville on Sunday, July 19.
Officers referred Anett Pikula, 39, to a secondary inspection of her Mercedes Benz coupe. A CBP narcotics-detection canine then alerted to the vehicle’s firewall where officers found multiple packages of cocaine, valued at almost $134,000, behind a false compartment in both front quarter panels.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, arrested and turned Pikula over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Her passenger was released without further incident.
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.
Border Patrol Arrests 5, Seizes Nearly 400 Pounds of Marijuana
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents intercepted a human smuggling attempt and seized nearly 400 pounds of marijuana during separate weekend incidents.
Agents arrested three illegal immigrants travelling through Dome Valley in an apparent effort to circumvent Wellton Station’s eastbound checkpoint on Interstate 8. The driver ignored the Border Patrol vehicle’s emergency equipment and continued to accelerate in an attempt to evade arrest. After a couple of abrupt stops, all occupants exited the vehicle and the driver was able to avoid arrest. Agents located and arrested a female passenger, a B1/B2 Visa card holder, and three illegal immigrants.
During three incidents in Wellton Station’s area of responsibility, agents seized a total of 394 pounds of abandoned marijuana, worth an estimated $197,000. 20 pounds of marijuana, worth approximately $10,000, discovered south of Tacna. Agents also seized 82 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $41,000, near mile marker 98, and another 292 pounds, worth about $146,000, south of Sentinel.
Yuma Station agents arrested one male and one female Mexican national after the two illegally crossed the U.S./Mexico border along the upper Colorado River on a motorcycle. Agents caught up to the two when they drove the motorcycle into a concrete irrigation ditch.
All illegal immigrants and contraband will be processed per Yuma Sector guidelines. The B1/B2 Visa card holder was later released.
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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP strives to keep terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
