MARCH 9, 2016
Lukeville CBP Officers intercept $95k in unreported funds
A male Mexican national was arrested Wednesday (March 2) for attempting to smuggle slightly more than $95,000 in unreported U.S. currency into Mexico through the Port of Lukeville.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting outbound inspections selected a Chevrolet truck driven by a 45-year-old Mexican national for further inspection. During the search, officers found an ice chest between the front seats concealed compartment containing three packages of U.S. currency hidden beneath ice and food items. The cash was seized. The case have been referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
“This is a collaborative effort by CBP, HSI, and DEA,” said Lukeville Port Director Peter Bachelier. “This formation is a "force-continuum" against the war on drugs and its proceeds. Our strategies are stronger and more accurate than ever.”
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.
Nogales CBP Officers seize $77K in hard drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican national March 2 for attempting to smuggle almost 26 pounds of methamphetamine through the Port of Nogales.
Officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred a 21-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, for further inspection of his Pontiac sedan and found multiple packages of meth worth nearly $77,000.
CBP officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and turned the subject over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Man with active warrant for felony sex assault arrested
Tucson Sector agents arrested two more sex offenders on March 2, one with an active warrant out of Houston, Texas.
Ajo Border Patrol Station agents apprehended an individual near Gila Bend, Arizona yesterday. Biometric record checks revealed the subject, a Mexican national, had an active warrant for felony sex assault with a minor out of Harris County, Texas.
The subject, charged with sex assault of a child between the ages of 14 and 17, will be transferred to the Harris County Sheriff Department after facing charges related to his illegal entry into the U.S.
Tucson Sector agents also apprehended a subject near Naco, Arizona, who was convicted of sexual acts with a minor in 2012. This sexual offender, caught yesterday while attempting to smuggle narcotics across the international boundary, previously served time for sexually engaging with a minor in Ventura County, California. The aggravated felon, who is a national of Mexico, now faces criminal charges for attempting to reenter the United States after deportation as well as attempting to traffic narcotics.
Border Patrol agents have arrested, identified and presented four sexual offenders for prosecution during the past five days.
Border Patrol agents remain vigilant in their effort to promote safer communities and prevent criminal elements from entering the United States.
San Luis CBP Officers seize $168K in hard drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers at Arizona’s Port of San Luis arrested two individuals for separate attempts to smuggle a combined 56 pounds of methamphetamine on March 1.
Officers referred a 40-year-old San Luis man for further inspection of his Ford Mustang. After a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the trunk and spare tire, officers found more than 35 pounds of meth worth nearly $106,000.
Earlier, officers referred a 28-year-old U.S. citizen, living in Mexicali, Sonora, Mexico, for additional inspection of his Ford sedan. A narcotics-canine’s alert helped officers locate almost 21 pounds of meth worth $62,000.
Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and arrested both subjects before turning both suspects over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Nogales CBP seizes $30K in marijuana
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Tucson woman for an alleged attempt to smuggle nearly 61 pounds of marijuana through the Port of Nogales March 1.
Officers at the Mariposa crossing referred the 35-year-old woman for further inspection when she attempted to enter the U.S. During the inspection, a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs within the gas tank. Officers removed the drugs valued at more than $30,000.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, while the driver was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Nogales CBP Officers seize $2.8M in marijuana
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Mariposa Commercial Facility in Nogales, Arizona, seized $2.8 million in marijuana – approximately 5,700 pounds – from a Mexican national March1 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 of Italian Squash in a tractor-trailer driven by a 45-year-old driver from Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.
Officers seized the tractor trailer and shipment. The driver was arrested and referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
The seizure comes a week after a 5,500 pound marijuana seizure at the Port of Nogales, worth an estimated $2.75M, which was identified as electronic items.
Douglas CBP Officers seize $123K in marijuana
Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Douglas (Raul Hector Castro POE) arrested a Mexican national for an alleged attempt to smuggle nearly 246 pounds of marijuana worth a combined $123,000 on March 1.
Officers arrested the 21-year-old man from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, after an inspection of his Chevrolet truck led to the discovery of marijuana, the tires and underneath the hood of the vehicle.
Officers seized the drugs and vehicle, and turned the subject over to 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.
Nogales CBP Officers Seize $355K in hard drugs
Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two Mexican nationals for alleged attempts to smuggle more than 64 pounds of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine through the Port of Nogales on Feb. 29.
Officers at the Mariposa crossing referred the 20-year-old driver for further inspection of his Isuzu SUV and found nearly five pounds of heroin and more than 12 pounds of meth under the rear seats. The drugs have a combined value exceeding $105,000.
Later, officers at the Dennis DeConcini crossing referred the 38-year-old driver for an additional search of his Chevrolet sedan. After a CBP canine alerted to the presence of drugs within the vehicle, officers removed a combination of meth, heroin and cocaine from the vehicle’s rocker panels. The haul consisted of nearly 36 pounds of meth, more than eight pounds of heroin and almost three pounds of cocaine. Combined, the drugs are valued at more than $250,000.
CBP officers seized the drugs and vehicles, and turned both subjects over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Border Patrol Agents provide medical care at checkpoint
A man approached Border Patrol agents at the I-90 immigration checkpoint’s primary lane on the morning of Feb. 29 and said he was having chest pains or possibly a heart attack.
Agents directed him to a secondary inspection lane where a Border Patrol Emergency Medical Technician provided care until emergency services arrived. The Whetstone Fire Department responded and transported the man to a local hospital.
Border Patrol agents frequently encounter commuters experiencing a variety of medical emergencies due to the fact that many checkpoints are located on roadways in remote areas. A few weeks ago, Border Patrol agents in the same vicinity encountered a person who was disoriented and suffering from a medical emergency. In that incident, agents provided the person with emergency care until he could be airlifted to a local area hospital. Border Patrol agents often transition from law enforcement to providing medical assistance or other humanitarian assistance. All Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents are trained as first responders, but the agency also employs 250 EMTs and 15 paramedics.
Checkpoints remain a critical piece of infrastructure and an effective tool in halting the flow of contraband and illegal traffic into the United States.
CBP welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.
