May 18, 2016
CBP Officers arrest three with more than $850K in drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested three individuals from neighboring Nogales, Sonora, Mexico during separate weekend smuggling attempts at the Nogales West (Mariposa) crossing in Nogales.
Officers first referred a 34-year-old man for a secondary inspection of his Ford SUV on May 13. A positive CBP narcotics-detection canine led officers to almost 21 pounds of meth worth nearly $63,000.
On May 14, officers referred a 50-year-old man for an inspection of his Dodge truck. Again, with assistance from a narcotics-detection canine, officers found almost 11 pounds of meth, worth more than $32,000, and nearly 42 pounds of heroin exceeding $724,000 in value.
Finally, on May 15, a narcotics-detection canine helped officers find more than 13 pounds of meth, worth an estimated $39,000, in a Ford sedan driven by 28-year-old woman.
Officers seized the vehicles and drugs, and turned the subjects over 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.
Nogales CBP Officers seize $4.5M in marijuana
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Mariposa Commercial Facility in Nogales, Arizona, seized $4.5 million in marijuana – approximately 9,000 pounds – from a Mexican national May 12 when he attempted to enter the United States.
After an alert by a CBP narcotics-detection canine, officers found the drugs co-mingled within a shipment identified as pumps and components in a tractor-trailer driven by a 59-year-old man from Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.
Officers seized the tractor-trailer and shipment, and referred the driver to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Less than a month ago, on April 21, officers at the same facility seized 14,800 pounds of marijuana worth $7.4 million; co-mingled in a shipment of watermelons.
Nogales CBP Officers Seize Meth from Smuggler’s Purse
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a female Mexican national when she allegedly attempted to smuggle more than three pounds of methamphetamine through the Port of Nogales, yesterday.
Officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred a 34-year-old Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, resident for further inspection of her Nissan sedan on May 11. A CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs, and officers discovered more than three pounds of meth, worth approximately $9,500, in the woman’s purse.
CBP officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and turned the suspect over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
San Luis CBP Officers seize meth, heroin caches with combined value of more than $260,000
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis arrested four persons for attempting to smuggle more than 72 pounds collectively of methamphetamine and heroin.
Officers referred a 25-year-old Mexican national for a secondary inspection of his Honda station wagon on May 11. A CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to a compartment behind the vehicle’s backseat, leading officers to nearly two dozen packages of drugs. The packages contained more than 23 pounds of meth, worth nearly $70,000, as well as nearly three pounds of heroin, valued at nearly $52,000.
Tuesday, officers referred a 28-year-old Yuma man for further inspection of his Jeep SUV. A narcotics canine led officers to the spare tire, where they recovered nearly 39 pounds of meth, worth more than $116,000. In another incident, a 17-year-old U.S. teen living in San Luis, Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, was recommended for further questioning as he crossed through the pedestrian lanes. When the male subject was searched, officers removed more than five pounds of meth that was wrapped around his midsection, with an estimated value of more than $15,000.
Also on Tuesday, a 19-year-old U.S. male living in San Luis, Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, was referred for further inspection as he came through the pedestrian crossing.
The person was found to be carrying meth that was wrapped around his legs. The drugs weighed nearly three pounds, with an estimated value of nearly $7,600.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicles, and all four subjects were arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Joint Rescue Operation saves stranded migrant
Tucson Sector’s Search Trauma and Rescue Team (BORSTAR), working alongside Air and Marine Operations and the Department of Public Safety, rescued a stranded migrant Tuesday night , May 10 from a rugged ridgeline outside of Sells, Arizona.
Just before 8 p.m., the Three Points Border Patrol Station received a 911-distress call from a man saying he was lost and stranded. Relying on approximate GPS coordinates taken from the distress call, Tucson Air and Marine assets initiated a search pattern over an area in the Baboquivari Mountain Range.
A short time later, a helicopter crew spotted one individual lying motionless on the mountainside. Due to rough terrain, however, the pilot could not safely land to insert agents nearby. AMO officials then relayed updated coordinates to responding BORSTAR agents who immediately began a two-hour, nighttime trek to locate the subject.
Carrying packs loaded with medical equipment, agents scaled the ridge and located the subject, identified as a 42-year-old Mexican national, just after 12:30 a.m., breathing and responsive. Agents provided immediate medical care and called for assistance to extract the subject.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety dispatched a Ranger helicopter to the location and airlifted the man out. He was then transported to a local hospital where he remains in Border Patrol custody while receiving necessary medical care.
This rescue demonstrates how joint efforts by federal, state, local and tribal authorities can integrate resources to provide efficient, effective and rapid responses. The rescue also highlights the importance of improved 911 protocols implemented by the Tucson Sector in 2015.
Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free.
Nogales CBP Offices stop heroin, currency at port
Customs and Border Protection officers seized almost $80,000 in unreported currency and more than 11 pounds of heroin, worth in excess of $197,000, at the Port of Nogales on May 10.
Officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred a 36-year-old Mexican woman for further inspection of her PT Cruiser and found heroin within the vehicle’s rear quarter panels.
At about the same time, officers conducting outbound inspections referred a 48-year-old Mexican man for further inspection of his Honda SUV and discovered multiple packages of unreported currency in a non-factory compartment beneath the rear seats.
Officers seized the drugs, currency and vehicles, and turned both subjects over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Douglas CBP Officers nab $181K in drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers at the Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry in Douglas, Arizona arrested two men May 10 for separate attempts to smuggle more than 190 pounds collectively of marijuana and heroin into the United States.
Officers referred a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, living in neighboring Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, for a secondary inspection of a Jeep SUV he was driving. In the vehicle’s tires and under the hood, officers discovered multiple packages of marijuana with a combined weight of nearly 186 pounds and worth close to $93,000.
A short time earlier, officers working the pedestrian crossing referred a 17-year-old from Peoria, Arizona for further questioning. During a follow-on search of the teen, officers discovered multiple packages of heroin from his travel bag. The drugs weighed just more than five pounds and are valued in excess of $88,000.
Officers seized the vehicle and drugs, and turned both subjects over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
San Luis CBP Officers seize almost 42 pounds of meth
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis arrested a 22-year-old man May 9 for attempting to smuggle almost 42 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated value exceeding $125,000.
Officers referred the man, a SENTRI cardholder, for a secondary inspection of his Dodge SUV. During the inspection, a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the rear quarter panels where officers found the drugs.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, revoked the man’s SENTRI privileges, turned him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Drug seizure, human smuggling, assault on agent … just another night for Tucson Sector Border Patrol
It all began just after 5 p.m. Monday, May 9 when camera operators got a brief look at a suspicious vehicle traveling north on a Forest Service road outside of Sonoita, Arizona. Agents nearby responded to an area where the service road connected to Highway 83 but the vehicle didn’t arrive.
Agents then headed for the only known outlet, a primitive service road, and searched the area until they located a large SUV parked under camouflage netting. Multiple bricks of marijuana were clearly visible. Agents seized the vehicle and more than 1,600 pounds of marijuana valued in excess of $800,000.
Less than an hour later, an agent from the Nogales Border Patrol Station approached an individual, suspected of being an undocumented migrant, approximately a half mile north of the international boundary. The subject fled and climbed onto a pedestrian awning near the Mariposa Port of Entry in downtown Nogales. When the agent approached, the subject began kicking the agent repeatedly in the face. The agent was able to gain control of the assailant and placed him under arrest.
The combative subject, identified as a 15-year-old national of Mexico, was transported to the Nogales Border Patrol Station to face charges, including assault on a federal agent. The agent was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and later released.
Three hours later, agents assigned to the I-19 checkpoint encountered a blue sedan occupied by four individuals. The agent attempting to verify the occupants’ immigration status referred the vehicle for a secondary inspection. During questioning, the two rear passengers provided fraudulent immigration documents. The driver and front passenger, both U.S citizens carrying holstered semi-automatic pistols, were taken into custody. The two rear passengers, identified as Mexican nationals, are being processed in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines and now face deportation.
Federal law allows agents 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.
Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free.
Woman with $348,000 in cocaine stopped at port
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a female Mexican national May 9 for attempting to smuggle nearly 31 pounds of cocaine, worth almost $348,000, through the Port of Nogales.
Officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred a 40-year-old woman for further inspection of her Nissan van and, with help from a CBP narcotics-detection canine, located the drugs inside the vehicle’s right wheel well.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and turned the subject over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
