MAY 13, 2015
Border Report
Nogales CBP Officers seize $165K in drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two U.S. citizens during separate weekend smuggling attempts at the Port of Nogales.
Officers at the Mariposa crossing arrested a 52-year-old man after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the Chevrolet truck he was driving on May 10. During a secondary inspection of the vehicle, officers located nearly 171 pounds of marijuana worth approximately $85,000.
Earlier that day, officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing arrested a 26-year-old woman after finding nearly six pounds of heroin, valued at more than $79,000, hidden within a suitcase inside of her Chevrolet sedan.
Officers processed for seizure all drugs and vehicles involved, and referred the subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Douglas CBP Officers seize $160K in marijuana
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Port of Douglas arrested a Willcox woman and a Douglas man during separate marijuana seizures May 7.
Officers arrested the 67-year-old man after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs within his Chrysler van. Officers retrieved 264 packages of marijuana, weighing nearly 290 pounds and valued at almost $145,000.
Earlier, officers apprehended a 26-year-old woman after a secondary inspection of her Chevrolet van turned up 31 packages of marijuana, weighing more than 31 pounds and worth nearly $16,000, in the vehicle’s spare tire.
Officers seized the marijuana and vehicles. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations took custody of the subjects.
San Luis CBP Officers seize $520K in cocaine
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis arrested a 22-year-old female Mexican national for allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly 50 pounds of cocaine into the United States.
Officers referred Abigail Zamudio-Sanchez of San Luis, Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, for a secondary inspection of her Ford SUV when she attempted to enter the U.S. on May 6. After a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle’s floor, officers found 20 packages of cocaine weighing nearly 50 pounds and valued at close to $520,000.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and referred Zamudio to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
CBP Officers seize $188K worth of meth
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis arrested two Mexican nationals during separate smuggling attempts on May 5 involving nearly 63 pounds of methamphetamine.
Officers referred Marisol Gonzalez-Garcia, 21, of San Luis, Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, for a secondary inspection of her Ford SUV. After a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle’s heater core, officers removed 81 packages of methamphetamine weighing more than 43 pounds and valued at almost $130,000.
Earlier in the day, officers arrested Oscar Roberto Ron-Ron, 42, of Yuma, after a narcotics-detection canine alerted to the quarter panels of his Jeep SUV containing 18 packages of meth. The packages have a combined weight of more than 19 pounds, worth about $58,000.
Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and referred both subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Nogales CBP Officers seize $727K in marijuana co-mingled with shipment of watermelons
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Mariposa Commercial Facility in Nogales seized nearly $728,000 in marijuana – 1,455 pounds – from a Mexican national Monday when he attempted to enter the United States through the Port of Nogales.
Officers discovered the marijuana, co-mingled with a load of watermelons, in a tractor-trailer driven by Antonio Vasquez-Nolan, 39, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, following an alert by a CBP narcotics detection canine. The load contained 128 bales of marijuana shaped as melons inside cardboard boxes.
Nogales Port Director Guadalupe Ramirez congratulated his staff, saying, “The level of expertise of our people is second to none. Although our men and women at the Port of Nogales are equipped with the latest technology to help prevent illicit cargo from getting past us, it’s their attention to detail that produces results.”
Officers seized the drugs, tractor-trailer and produce, and referred Vasquez to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Nogales CBP Officers seize $570K in drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican national and a U.S. citizen during separate weekend smuggling attempts at the Port of Nogales.
Officers at the Mariposa Commercial facility arrested Jesus Julian Montiel-Portillo, 24, from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the Jeep SUV he was driving on May 2. During a secondary inspection, officers located nearly 40 pounds of heroin, worth approximately $560,000, within the firewall area.
A day later, officers at the Morley pedestrian crossing arrested Jesus Enrique Tolano, 23, of Rio Rico, after finding more than three pounds of meth, valued at almost $10,000, hidden within a gaming system he was carrying.
Officers processed all drugs and vehicles involved, and referred the subjects to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Naco CBP Officers seize $51K in marijuana
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Naco, Arizona man for attempting to smuggle more than 100 pounds of marijuana through the Port of Naco on May 1.
Officers referred Victor Manuel Lopez-Tamayo, 27, for further inspection of his Chevrolet truck and found 48 packages of marijuana, valued at approximately $51,000, behind the vehicle’s back seats.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and referred Lopez to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Border Patrol agents rescue illegal immigrants, arrest traffickers, seize marijuana
Border Patrol agents rescued two illegal immigrants, seized 330 pounds of marijuana and captured nine smugglers during separate incidents Sunday, May 3.
Wellton Border Patrol Station received a 911 call from a group of distressed immigrants who illegally entered the United States. With assistance from Office of Air and Marine’s Yuma Air Branch pilots, agents spotted a fire where they located and rescued two subjects. Two other subjects fled the area.
Agents assigned to Yuma Sector's forward operating base near Lukeville, Arizona, used night vision goggles to detect a group of illegal immigrants carrying large, rectangular backpacks through open desert south of the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge. When agents responded on all-terrain vehicles, the group dropped their backpacks and fled to avoid apprehension. Agents arrested all nine subjects and seized approximately 330 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $165,000.
All subjects and marijuana 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.
Douglas CBP Officers seize $75K in marijuana
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Port of Douglas arrested Carlota Margaret Bene, 18, of Mesa after discovering nearly 151 pounds of marijuana throughout her Dodge SUV on May 1.
Officers seized the marijuana, worth more than $75,000, and vehicle. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations took custody of the subject.
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.
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.
