Press Release from US Customs and Border Protection September 6, 2011:
 

Significant Week Sonoita Border Patrol Station Seizes

More Than 3,000 Pounds of Marijuana

TUCSON, Ariz. – Sonoita Station Border Patrol agents seized approximately 3,250 pounds of marijuana valued at more than $1,625,500 in five separate incidents since Sunday.

A Border Patrol canine team was tracking footprints of a group of possible illegal aliens Sunday when the service canine alerted to the presence of narcotics. An immediate search of the area revealed six bundles of marijuana abandoned on the trail. The bundles had a combined weight of just less than 279 pounds and valued at $139,000.

In another incident Sunday, agents responded to a detection sensor and found five bundles of abandoned marijuana weighing more than 218 pounds. The bundles were estimated to be worth approximately $109,000.

Agents stopped two vehicles Tuesday traveling in tandem and with false vehicle license plates. The female driver of the first vehicle, a U.S.citizen, was detained when agents discovered a false compartment in the vehicle containing 53 packages of marijuana weighing more than 312 pounds and valued at $156,000. Concurrently, agents stopped the second vehicle and apprehended two male passengers who admitted to working with the female driver of the first vehicle. The three subjects are being criminally prosecuted. 

Wednesday afternoon, an agent encountered an abandoned pickup truck with 75 bundles of marijuana weighing 1,840 pounds and valued at $920,000. 

In another incident Wednesday, Sonoita agents stopped a suspicious vehicle with modifications indicative of narcotics smuggling. Agents interviewed the driver, a Mexican citizen with a Permanent Resident Card, who gave agents permission to search his vehicle. After a Border Patrol canine team alerted to the presence of narcotics, agents discovered 60 packages of marijuana in a concealed compartment. The packages had a combined weight of almost 282 pounds and with a value of $140,500. The driver is being held for prosecution.

 

In each incident, agents transported the marijuana and vehicles to the Sonoita Station for processing.

According to Michael Hyatt, Patrol Agent in Charge of the Sonoita Station, the Tucson Sector deploys a combination of technology, infrastructure, and agents to effectively patrol the border, deter smuggling activity and interdict smugglers.  Specialty units, such as canine teams,” he said, “continue to assist agents in the field while old-fashioned tracking skills continue to be a valuable component in the Border Patrol’s arsenal of tools and techniques. The men and women of the Sonoita Border Patrol Station are taking our enforcement efforts to the next level.”

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, the Department of Homeland Security has made significant investments toward establishing a secure and safe border environment to improve the quality of life throughoutArizonacommunities.

Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community.  To report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.

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 is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Press Release from US Customs and Border Protection:

Nogales CBP Officers Seize $874,000 in Undeclared Currency over Weekend

NOGALES, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers screening outbound travelers for weapons and illicit currency prevented two separate attempts to smuggle large quantities of cash out of the country over the weekend at the Port of Nogales. Officers seized more than $874,000 and arrested two people.

On Saturday, CBP officers conducting outbound enforcement operations at the Dennis DeConcini Port stopped the driver and occupants of a Chevy Traverse for questioning and vehicle inspection. During the inspection officers discovered 26 packages of U.S. currency hidden inside a compartment built into the vehicle’s firewall area. Officers seized the $494,287 in undeclared currency along with the vehicle. The driver, a 38-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

On Sunday, CBP officers conducting outbound enforcement operations at the Mariposa Port stopped the driver and occupants of another Chevy SUV for questioning and vehicle inspection.  During the inspection officers discovered 15 packages of U.S. currency hidden inside a compartment built into the vehicle’s firewall area.  Officers seized the $379,863 in undeclared currency along with the vehicle.  The driver, a 51-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

“We are committed to hurting the transnational criminal organizations and disrupting their operations,” said Port Director Guadalupe Ramirez. “Stopping smuggling attempts like this and taking the money out of their hands plays a huge role in this.”

Individuals arrested are charged with a criminal complaint, which raises no inference of guilt.  An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, unprecedented shifts in staffing and infrastructure at the Ports of Arizona have brought a higher level of focus and intensity to their operations.  These shifts have resulted in higher narcotics interceptions and tougher outbound enforcement operations yielding record illicit currency, weapons, and wanted felon interceptions.

CBP’s Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked primarily with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. OFO 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 responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

Press Release from US Customs and Border Protection August 17, 2011:

Media Informational

TUCSON, Ariz. — The following is a rundown of activities that occurred during the past 36 hours within the Tucson Sector. This is only a thumbnail of each incident.

Arrests

(WCX)  CBP officers assisting Border Patrol agents at the State Route 80 checkpoint last night encountered two males in a black sedan and directed them for a secondary inspection. Instead, they fled the checkpoint. Agents later found the vehicle abandoned about nine miles away. Inside the vehicle, they found 18 bricks of marijuana weighing 32 pounds. The narcotics, valued at $16,000, and vehicle were processed for seizure.

(AJO)  Agents, working in the West Desert Tuesday, apprehended a 30-year-old man with tattoos consistent with the Latin Kings gang. He is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for illegal entry.

(CAG)  Agents arrested a citizen of Guatemala in the Casa Grande area Monday. Records revealed the 28-year-old male is a former 13^th Street Sureño gang member with prior immigration violations. He is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for illegal entry.   

(DGL)  Monday, agents assisting with southbound operations at the Douglas Port encountered a 16-year-old female, traveling with her grandmother. The girl fit the description of a missing person/runaway and was taken to the Douglas Police Department and Child Protective Services was contacted.

 Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, the Department of Homeland Security has made significant investments toward establishing a secure and safe border environment to improve the quality of life in Arizona’s communities.

Customs and Border Protection appreciates assistance from the community. Suspicious activity can be reported by calling the Border Patrol at 1-877-872-7435. All calls are answered and remain anonymous. 

~CBP~

News from US C ustoms and Border Protection…Border Patrol:

Agents seize 3,000 pounds of marijuana, 1 truck

August 8, 2011: TUCSON, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Ajo Station seized nearly 3,000 pounds of marijuana Saturday worth about $2.3 million.

Border Patrol Seizes $2.3 Million in Pot, 3 Vehicles

TUCSON, Ariz. – In the first incident, Ajo Station agents spotted suspicious activity near State Route 85 south of Why, Ariz. When agents searched the area, they discovered two pick-up trucks loaded with a combined 207 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 4,400 pounds.

Both vehicles, reported stolen, were turned over to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The marijuana, valued at more than $2.2 million, will be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Later that evening, agents using thermal imaging technology observed a group of suspected drug smugglers loading marijuana into a vehicle northwest of Douglas, Ariz.

Agents attempted an interdiction, but when they activated their emergency lights, the vehicle fled the scene.

The Douglas Police Department took the lead in the pursuit.

Two subjects were seen exiting the vehicle but one was quickly apprehended.

The other is believed to have fled into Mexico. Inside the vehicle, agents discovered seven bundles of marijuana weighing 326 pounds with an estimated value of $163,000.

The marijuana is pending transfer to the DEA. The subject will be presented for federal prosecution.

Customs and Border Protection regularly adapts and shifts resources to combat the flow of drugs into the United States. Coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies makes it difficult for transnational criminal organizations to operate with impunity.

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, the Department of Homeland Security has made significant investments toward establishing a secure, safe border environment to improve the quality of life throughout Arizona communities.

Customs and Border Protection appreciates assistance from the community. Report suspicious activity by calling the Border Patrol toll free 1-877-872-7435. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.

~CBP~

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 is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

More than 4,700 pounds of marijuana, valued at about $2.3 million, was seized yesterday by Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents in two separate incidents. 

Border Patrol Seizes $2.3 Million in Pot, 3 Vehicles

TUCSON, Ariz. – More than 4,700 pounds of marijuana, valued at about $2.3 million, was seized yesterday by Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents in two separate incidents.

In the first incident, Ajo Station agents spotted suspicious activity near State Route 85 south of Why, Ariz. When agents searched the area, they discovered two pick-up trucks loaded with a combined 207 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 4,400 pounds. Both vehicles, reported stolen, were turned over to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The marijuana, valued at more than $2.2 million, will be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). (Photos available)Later that evening, agents using thermal imaging technology observed a group of suspected drug smugglers loading marijuana into a vehicle northwest of Douglas, Ariz. Agents attempted an interdiction, but when they activated their emergency lights, the vehicle fled the scene. The Douglas Police Department took the lead in the pursuit. Two subjects were seen exiting the vehicle but one was quickly apprehended. The other is believed to have fled into Mexico. Inside the vehicle, agents discovered seven bundles of marijuana weighing 326 pounds with an estimated value of $163,000. The marijuana is pending transfer to the DEA. The subject will be presented for federal prosecution.

Customs and Border Protection regularly adapts and shifts resources to combat the flow of drugs into the United States. Coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies makes it difficult for transnational criminal organizations to operate with impunity.

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, the Department of Homeland Security has made significant investments toward establishing a secure, safe border environment to improve the quality of life throughout Arizona communities.

Customs and Border Protection appreciates assistance from the community. Report suspicious activity by calling the Border Patrol toll free 1-877-872-7435. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.

~CBP~

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 is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.