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.

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.

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~

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.

Media Informational

TUCSON, Ariz. — The following is a rundown of activities that occurred over the weekend within the Tucson Sector. This is only a thumbnail of each incident.

Arrests

(DGL) Agents from the Douglas Station apprehended a 24-year-old illegal alien from Queretaro, Mexico Thursday. The man has an active warrant for sexual assault out of Washington County, Oregon. He was turned over to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office for extradition.

(DGL) Douglas Station agents apprehended a 48-year-old Friday who was illegally present in the United States. Record checks revealed the man had been convicted in Albuquerque, New Mexico of attempting to commit child abuse-death or great bodily harm. The man is being processed pending prosecution.

(DGL) Agents assigned to the Douglas Station apprehended a 30-year-old illegal alien from Mexico Saturday. Record checks revealed the man had been arrested in California for lewd or lascivious acts with a child. The man is being processed pending prosecution.
Rescues

(AJO) Agents assigned to the Ajo Station received a call Saturday regarding two illegal aliens who were lost northwest of Lukeville, Arizona. The men, one from Guatemala and one from Mexico, were treated for dehydration by the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR) and were transported to the Ajo Station for further processing.

(TUS) Agents from the Tucson Station encountered a 35-year-old Guatemalan national south of Three Points, Ariz. the man complained of dizziness and unable to walk. Due to the remoteness of the terrain, BORSTAR responded and litter carried him to an area accessible by ambulance. The man was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
Recovery

(CAG) Casa Grande Station agents discovered human remains Saturday while patrolling the West Desert west of Federal Route 42. The Tohono O’odham Police Department was notified and took custody of the scene.People attempting to cross the Sonoran Desert on foot face extremely hazardous conditions, yet smugglers continue to put their lives in danger by leading them through the harsh and desolate terrain. Smugglers are known to abandon anyone in the group physically unable to continue.

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 throughout Arizona 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 will be answered and remain anonymous.

~CBP~

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with managing and protecting 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 also enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Border Patrol Agents Confiscate Marijuana, Five Smuggling Vehicles

TUCSON, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents seized more than 1,100 pounds of marijuana in two separate incidents yesterday with a combined value of almost $583,000.
The first incident occurred when Casa Grande Station agents, using thermal imaging technology, observed suspected cross-border activity early Monday.

Agents then closed in on the three all-terrain vehicles loaded with 15 bundles of marijuana weighing 746 pounds. The ATVs were seized and the marijuana was transported to the Casa Grande Station pending transfer to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The marijuana has an estimated value of more than $370,000.

Last night, near San Pedro Valley, agents assigned to the Willcox Station interdicted three individuals in two vehicles involved in an attempt to smuggle 419 pounds of marijuana valued at nearly $210,000. The subjects, narcotics and vehicles were transported to the Willcox Station for further processing.

Smugglers often prefer to abandon their drug loads rather than risk being caught. Anyone apprehended for smuggling will face an appropriate legal consequence. In January, the Tucson Sector enhanced our efforts on a comprehensive Consequence Delivery System designed to break the smuggling cycle.

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.