May 25, 2016
Border Report
Nogales CBP Officers intercept meth shipment at port
TUCSON – Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a 29-year-old Tucson woman, Wednesday, May 18, after finding nearly $121,000 worth of methamphetamine hidden within her vehicle.
Following questioning by officers working at the Port of Nogales’ Dennis DeConcini crossing, the woman was referred for a secondary inspection. A search of the vehicle revealed multiple packages containing more than 40 pounds of the drug concealed in the vehicle’s seats.
Officers seized the vehicle and drugs, and the subject was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
CBP Officers intercept ammo headed for Mexico
A southern California man was arrested May 17 for attempting to smuggle ammunition into Mexico through the Port of Nogales.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting outbound inspections selected a Hyundai sedan, driven by a 21-year-old man from Long Beach, for further inspection. During the search, officers found 12,000 rifle rounds throughout the vehicle.
Officers seized the vehicle and ammunition, and referred the subject to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Nogales CBP Officers Find Drugs in Car, Taped to Man’s Legs, in Woman’s Underwear
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two men and a woman involved in separate attempts to smuggle a combined 46 pounds of methamphetamine and heroin through the Port of Nogales on May 16.
Officers at the Nogales West (Mariposa) crossing, working with a CBP narcotics-detection canine, located more than 38 pounds of meth, valued at almost $115,000, in the spare tire of a Dodge truck driven by a 54-year-old Rio Rico man.
Later in the day, officers and a drug canine at the DeConcini vehicle crossing were searching a Toyota sedan driven by an 18-year-old man from in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, when the canine alerted to man’s legs. Officers then searched the man and discovered more than 2 pounds of heroin, worth close to $41,000, taped to his legs.
On the same day but at the DeConcini pedestrian lanes, officers questioned and then searched a 47-year-old Tucson woman. The search turned up more than 5 pounds of meth, valued at nearly $16,000, hidden within her underclothing.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicles, and turned all three subjects over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
CBP Officers find marijuana in gas tank, armpits
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two Arizona men in separate incidents May 16 for attempting to smuggle a combined 117 pounds of marijuana through the Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry in Douglas, Arizona.
The first arrested was a 32-year-old Phoenix man with more than 114 pounds of marijuana, worth roughly $57,000, within the quarter panels and fuel tank of his Acura Coupe.
Later, officers at the pedestrian crossing caught a 65-year-old Douglas man with a marijuana package taped underneath each armpit. Officers estimate the marijuana, weighing more than 3 pounds, is worth approximately $1,600.
CBP officers seized all drugs and vehicle, and turned both 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.
