June 8, 2016
Successful operation leads to arrest of two scouts, one who assaulted agent
A recent operation conducted outside of Casa Grande, Arizona, resulted in the arrest of two scouts, one of whom assaulted a Tucson Sector agent.
The Casa Grande Station Mountain Team is well versed in the interdiction of criminal scouts. The accomplished team, whose agents emphasize rapid response capabilities in remote and rugged terrain, are very successful in their operations. This Memorial Day Weekend was no different.
Sunday morning just before 5:30 AM, the team launched a scout operation which targeted an observation post in the Sawtooth Mountain Range outside of Casa Grande, Arizona. As agents carried out their detailed plan, they were well aware of the dangers these scouts pose to law enforcement agents. Scouts, who are hired by criminal organizations to provide guidance to human and narcotic smugglers have already assaulted two agents in the past two months.
Sunday morning was the third. As agents approached the observation post, one subject assaulted a member of the team in an attempt to flee the rocky mountainside. However, after a brief struggle and the deployment of pepper spray, agents were able to gain control of the subject and take him into custody. Identified as a national of Mexico, the subject was charged with assault on a federal agent as well as attempt and conspiracy, a common charge for identified scouts.
A second subject, also a national of Mexico, was arrested and is facing charges for attempt and conspiracy. Additionally, he has an active felony warrant for homicide in Mexico. Also recovered at the observation post was four solar panels, two binoculars, eight cell phones, two radios, and two radio chargers.
In Fiscal Year 2015, Tucson Sector agents had 87 assaults which accounted for over 20 percent of the assaults on Border Patrol agents nationwide.
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 Officers seize $2.2M in marijuana
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Mariposa Commercial Facility in Nogales, Arizona, seized $2.2 million in marijuana weighing approximately 4,400 pounds from a tractor-trailer.
Officers discovered the drugs co-mingled within a shipment identified as palletized wooden furniture after an alert by a CBP narcotics detection canine. The tractor-trailer was driven by 25-year-old Mexican national male who was arrested.
Officers seized the tractor-trailer and shipment, and referred the driver 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 establish 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.
CBP Officers Seize Meth at Port of San Luis
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis arrested a U.S. Citizen attempting to smuggle $156,000 in methamphetamine on June 2. Officers removed and seized more than 52 pounds of the drug from the rocker panels of a Ford sedan driven by the 47-year-old male after a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the vehicle. In addition officers seized the drugs and vehicle, while the subject was arrested and turned 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.
Border Patrol agents seize drugs, guns and counterfeit money
Entering the Memorial Day weekend, Border Patrol agents made significant seizures in three separate events. Thursday, May 26, Blythe Station agents encountered two U.S. citizens, both males, at a gas station in Ehrenberg. During the encounter, agents smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The two were arrested after a search of the vehicle yielded three pounds of marijuana, valued at an estimated $1,520, two hand guns, and 23 counterfeit $100- bills. Friday, May 27, agents arrested Ramiro Bello-Juanito, a Mexican national illegally present in the U.S. Records checks revealed an active warrant for Bello by the Arizona Department of Corrections. Bello will now be incarcerated for the remaining year of his sentence. Also on Friday, a vehicle attempting to pass through the Highway 95 immigration checkpoint was referred to a secondary inspection because a K9 alerted to the vehicle. Further inspection revealed both occupants of the vehicle were hiding nearly 13 pounds of cocaine in their waistbands. The drugs were valued at an estimated $143,487. One of the subjects also had a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue hidden in his sock. Both were lawful permanent residents. All persons, drugs, contraband and vehicles will be processed per 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.
