NOVEMBER 25, 2015
Cross Border Drug Smuggling a Family Affair
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Field Operations officers seized nearly 70 pounds of marijuana Saturday, hidden in the gas tank of a vehicle at the Port of Lukeville. The estimated value of the seized contraband is about $35,000.
Officers made the discovery after selecting a 2003 GMC Yukon for secondary inspection and then detected anomalies in the gas tank. Officers arrested the driver, Raul Adel Lizarraga Salazar, 24, and his 19-year-old brother Marcos Alonso, both Mexican citizens, and turned them over to U.S Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
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.
“Regardless of the amount of drugs, the people of the United States should be extremely proud of the hard work the men and women of CBP do daily,” said Port of Lukeville Chief of Staff Garret Reinhart. “As a citizen of this country and CBP manager, I am extremely proud of the work my officers do. Our officers are highly trained and knowledgeable. They never give up their enforcement posture and demonstrate each and every day that they remain the primary guardians of our great nation’s borders.”
Border Patrol Seizes 1400 lbs. of Marijuana, 19 Arrested
Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents seized 1,483 pounds of marijuana, valued at almost $741,500, and arrested 19 subjects during two weekend incidents.
Agents assigned to the Ajo Border Patrol Station were patrolling along the international boundary near Lukeville, Arizona, on Nov. 13 when they discovered footprints left by several individuals who apparently entered the United States illegally. Agents tracked the footprints and eventually caught up with the group.
With assistance from an Air and Marine Operations crew, agents apprehended 19 individuals carrying large bundles of marijuana. Agents transported the marijuana, weighing just over 920 pounds, and all subjects to the Ajo Station for further processing.
The following day, agents assigned to the Douglas Border Patrol Station watched several subjects cross the international boundary with large bundles commonly associated with drug traffickers. As agents responded to the area, the subjects absconded after trying to conceal their packs near an abandoned ranch. Agents searched the area and recovered the packs, which contained marijuana and a Marlin Model 783, .22-caliber rifle. Agents transported the marijuana, weighing more than 563 pounds, and rifle to the Douglas Station for further processing.
“Constant vigilance and unwavering dedication to the border security mission has resulted in multiple seizures throughout Tucson Sector this fiscal year,” said Chief Padilla. “These efforts have helped promote a safer environment for those living in border communities. The agency continues to remain steadfast in its efforts to deny transnational criminal networks the ability to smuggle contraband and people into the United States.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. Contacting the Border Patrol to report suspicious activity could save a life.
Lukeville CBP Officers Find Marijuana in Fuel Tank
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations officers seized more than 56 pounds of marijuana Sunday, worth an estimated $28,000, found in the gas tank of a vehicle attempting to enter the United States through Arizona’s Port of Lukeville.
After finding the drugs in a Ford Expedition selected for a secondary inspection, officers arrested the driver, Christina Rochelle Leifried, 35, a U.S. citizen from Laveen, Arizona.
Officers processed the vehicle and drugs for seizure, and referred Leifried to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Naco CBP Officers Seize $81K in Drugs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested three Mexican nationals during the weekend for alleged attempts to smuggle more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly 64 pounds of marijuana through the Port of Naco.
On Nov. 14, officers referred Francisco Javier Guerrero-Mendez, 24, and his
22-year-old passenger, Samuel Gosvanny Sabori-Fernandez, both of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection of their Isuzu Rodeo. During the inspection, officers discovered more than 16 pounds of meth, value at more than $49,000, in a pair of coolers in the back of the vehicle.
The day before, officers selected Anna Laura Nunez de Rodriguez, 39, a legal resident living in Hereford, Arizona, for further inspection of her Fiat sedan. After a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to drugs and officers found multiple packages of marijuana throughout the vehicle, worth nearly $32,000.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicles, and referred all subjects 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.
