Press Release US Customs and Border Protection August 3, 2011:

Juvenile Smugglers at Arizona’s Ports

CBP combating rise in adolescent narcotics smuggling 

TUCSON, Ariz. — Juveniles will face tougher criminal prosecution as U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations works to address a rising trend of juveniles involved in narcotics smuggling. CBP efforts to disrupt smuggling organizations will hold juveniles who engage in illegal transnational activities accountable while educating young people of the dangers of engaging in smuggling activities.

The number of juveniles smuggling narcotics and contraband continues to increase,” said Director of Field Operations David Higgerson. “We are committed to ensuring that these individuals are held accountable while increasing deterrence by educating juveniles on the dangers of getting involved with criminal organizations. They are putting their futures, their lives, and their families at risk.”

In the first nine months of this fiscal year, CBP has apprehended 135 juveniles (93 U.S. citizens and 42 Mexican nationals) for attempting to smuggle narcotics through Arizona’s ports. By comparison, in fiscal year 2010, 83 juveniles were apprehended. 

Mexican national teens apprehended for smuggling can be prosecuted in the United States on a combination of immigration and narcotics smuggling charges and can be banned from the United States for life.  Juveniles who are U.S. citizens and prosecuted for narcotics smuggling will have a permanent record for a federal law violation. 

Juveniles who engage in narcotics smuggling are also in danger of retaliation from drug trafficking organizations.

CBP is working to reach out to young people in communities along our Arizona border and to educate young people on the dangers of smuggling. CBP K-9 enforcement teams visit local schools to give presentations to students and host a Citizens Academy. A Citizens Academy provides an opportunity for community members to experience the CBP inspection process.  The program consists of classroom activities and hands-on scenarios. In addition, the Tucson Field Office participates frequently in the U.S. Border Patrol’s Operation Detour outreach program.   Operation Detour is an outreach program designed to educate youth about the dangers of smuggling narcotics or other contraband across the border.

Photo 1 – Juvenile Body Carrier

Photo 2 – 16 year old Body Carrier

Photo 3 – Teen Body Carrier
 
–CBP– 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry.  CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terriost weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Press Releases from DHS US Customns and Border Protection:

August 4, 2011:

Joint Field Command-Week in Review

Seizures exceed $9 million in narcotics, $229,000 in currency

TUCSON, Ariz. — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Arizona Joint Field Command (AZ-JFC) is reporting the seizure of more than 16,155 pounds of narcotics, with an estimated value of more than $9.2 million, and the apprehension of 1,594 illegal immigrants at the Arizona border July 25 – 31.

Narcotics seizures consisted of more than 16,050 pounds of marijuana, 81 pounds of cocaine, 19 pounds of methamphetamines and five pounds of heroin. CBP also intercepted 100 rounds of ammunition, $229,000 in illegal outbound currency, and 22 vehicles used for illicit purposes.

CBP in Arizona has apprehended more than 7,300 illegal immigrants and seized in excess of 91,600 pounds of marijuana during July 2011. This represents a 26 percent decrease in apprehensions, which is a key indicator in illegal immigration, and a 17 percent increase in marijuana seizures when compared to monthly totals for June 2011. CBP credits this success to the integrated border enforcement effort in Arizona and significant increases in personnel, technology and tactical infrastructure.

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March, 2009, the Department of Homeland Security, under Secretary Janet Napolitano, has engaged in an unprecedented effort to bring focus and intensity to Southwest border security; coupled with a reinvigorated, smart and effective approach to enforcing immigration laws in the interior of our country.

TUCSON, Ariz. — The following is a snapshot of certain Department of Homeland Security activities along the Southwest border. This rundown provides a thumbnail of each incident.

Joint Field Command Statistics – Over the past 48 hours in Arizona

(Narcotics weights are measured in pounds)

Marijuana seized 3,713

Methamphetamines seized 6

Outbound currency seized $2,713

Individuals presented in federal court for prosecution* 187

Individuals prosecuted under Operation Streamline* 118

Individuals prosecuted on federal drug charges* 11

*These numbers only represent those apprehended by Border Patrol and presented for prosecution.

On August 1, Border Patrol agents from the Naco Station apprehended an illegal immigrant west of the Naco Port of Entry. Using the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, agents revealed the subject was a sex offender based on a 1990 conviction in Kennewick, Wash. for rape. The subject is being criminally prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Illegal Entry.

On August 1, agents assigned to the Naco Station apprehended an illegal immigrant from Mexico with a prior removal from the U.S. who admitted to being a member of the Sureño 13 street gang. The subject is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for re-entry of a felon.

On August 1, agents from the Willcox Station conducting checkpoint operations along State Route 90 arrested a 56-year-old United States citizen who was attempting to smuggle an illegal immigrant from Oaxaca, Mexico, in the trunk of his vehicle. The vehicle was seized and the illegal immigrant was transported to the Willcox Station for further processing while the driver is being prosecuted for alien smuggling.

On August 1, Douglas Border Patrol agents apprehended a subject for illegally entering the United States about two miles east of the Douglas Port. During processing, the subject admitted to being part of the Varrio Frontera Locos Sureno 13 street gang. He is being criminally prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for illegal entry.

On August 2, agents assigned to the Ajo Station received a citizen call about a suspicious vehicle at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Agents responded to the area and discovered an abandoned pick-up truck containing 41 bundles of marijuana. The marijuana weighed about 915 pounds with an estimated value of $457,500. The vehicle and marijuana were seized.

On August 2, a 32-year-old female illegal immigrant from Mexico was apprehended by Douglas Border Patrol agents after illegally entering the United States about three miles east of the Douglas Port. Record checks through IAFIS revealed that the subject was arrested by the Phoenix Police Department for Negligent Homicide, a charge which she was convicted of in 2001. She will be presented for prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A 17-year-old Mexican female was arrested August 1 for attempting to smuggle more than two pounds of marijuana through the Douglas Port. The subject was submitted for a routine pat down, which led to the discovery of two packages taped around her abdomen and back. The subject was referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further investigation.

A 22-year-old U.S. citizen was arrested August 1 for attempting to smuggle 137 pounds of marijuana through the Lukeville Port. CBP officers used a narcotics detection canine and non-intrusive x-ray to locate the drugs in the vehicle’s fuel tank. The man was referred to ICE HSI for further investigation.

A 41-year-old man from Douglas was attempting to depart the United States August 2 when officers referred him for additional questioning. When officers ran a routine records check, they discovered an outstanding arrest warrant for assault. The man was arrested and turned over to Douglas Police.

A 15-year-old U.S. citizen was arrested August 2 after CBP officers located a package of marijuana wrapped and hidden inside his backpack when he tried to enter the United States through a pedestrian lane at the Douglas Port. The drugs, weighing nearly three ounces, have an estimated value of less than $100. The marijuana was seized and the subject was turned over to ICE HSI.

A 25-year-old Mexican woman was arrested August 2 for possession of nearly 66 pounds of marijuana when she attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Douglas Port. A narcotics detection canine alerted CBP officers who then located 71 packages of marijuana in her vehicle. The subject was transferred to the custody of ICE HSI.

A 49-year-old Mexican man was arrested August 2 after officers at the Dennis DeConcini Port in Nogales located nearly 33 pounds of marijuana hidden in his truck. A narcotics detection canine alerted officers who then located 31 packages hidden in a non-factory compartment in one of the truck’s doors. The subject was transferred to ICE HSI.

A 46-year-old Mexican man attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane August 2 at the Mariposa commercial port in Nogales and was referred for additional inspection. After a narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle, officers removed 26 bundles of marijuana. The subject was taken into custody and referred to ICE HSI.

A 36-year-old U.S. citizen was arrested August 2 for attempting to smuggle methamphetamines through the San Luis Port. Officers conducted a routine pat down search of the man and located five packages taped to his back. When officers ran a routine records check on the subject, they also discovered an outstanding arrest warrant on drug charges. The methamphetamines, weighing nearly six pounds, have an estimated value exceeding $86,000. The subject was referred to ICE HSI.

On August 1, Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Station were patrolling east of the San Luis Port when they received notification from the Air & Marine Operations Center of a possible ultralight aircraft incursion. Agents began searching the area and located 14 bundles of marijuana in a field near County 19th Street and Avenue B. About 244 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $122,200, was seized and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On August 2, Border Patrol agents from the Blythe Station assisted the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office in locating a 20-year-old female suspected of stabbing another individual. When agents arrived at the crime scene, they located and tracked foot prints leading to the suspect hiding behind a tree stump. She was subsequently turned over to the RCSO to face charges for assault with a deadly weapon.

On August 2, Cocopah Tribal Police Department (CTPD) officers seized 147 pounds of marijuana while working a joint operation with Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents. Officers responded to an area near County 8th Street where individuals were seen loading marijuana into a vehicle. The driver, a juvenile U.S. citizen, was arrested while the marijuana and vehicle were seized by CTPD.

In February, CBP announced the Arizona Joint Field Command (JFC)—an organizational realignment that brings together Border Patrol, Air and Marine, and Field Operations under a unified command structure to integrate CBP’s border security, commercial enforcement, and trade facilitation missions to more effectively meet the unique challenges faced in the Arizona area of operations.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) promotes homeland security and public safety through the criminal and civil enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and immigration. ICE and CBP collaborate in investigations regarding criminal organizations with a nexus to the border.

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, the Obama administration has engaged in an unprecedented effort to bring focus and intensity to Southwest border security, coupled with a reinvigorated, smart and effective approach to enforcing immigration laws in the interior of our country.

Press Release from US Customs and Border Protection July 26, 2011:

CBP Specialists Intercept Harmful Pest

Bug known to transmit Citrus Greening Disease

NOGALES, Ariz. — A potentially destructive agriculture threat was recently prevented from entering the country when U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists (CBPAS) detected and seized medicinal tea composed of dried lemongrass and fresh citrus leaves containing several dead and live citrus psyllids.

“This is the second interception of citrus psyllids at the port this year,” said Assistant Director of Field Operations-Trade James Tong. “It’s an outstanding demonstration of the meticulous and daily detailed effort necessary to defend our nation’s agriculture industry. Sometimes it is the smallest and least suspected that poses the greatest risk.”

CBPAS were screening travelers coming from Mexico on July 17, at the Mariposa Port in Nogales, when they selected a vehicle with Washington state license plates for a secondary agriculture inspection. The driver declared two live plants and some medicinal tea. Further scrutiny of the citrus leaves revealed nine dead and four live citrus psyllids confirmed as Diaphorina sp., a group of significant quarantine pests known for transmitting citrus greening disease, Huanglongbing (HLB). HLB is considered the most destructive citrus disease in the world.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the disease has seriously affected citrus production in India, Asia, Southeast Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and Africa.

CBP’s Office of Field Operations is tasked primarily with an anti-terrorism mission. They 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 traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trades laws, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

–CBP–

Press Release from US Customs and Border Protection July 25, 2011:

Keeping the Khapra Beetle Out of the U.S.

CBP to enforce USDA restriction on the importation of rice from countries where Khapra Beetle is known to occur

WASHINGTON—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will enforce a federal quarantine order beginning July 30 that restricts the importation of rice into the U.S. from countries with known Khapra beetle infestations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is restricting the importation of rice from countries known to have Khapra beetle due to an increasing number of detections at U.S. ports of entry of infested shipments of rice from these countries. The introduction and establishment of Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) into the U.S. poses a serious threat to stored agricultural products, including spices, grains and packaged foods.

Noncommercial quantities of rice from countries where Khapra beetle is known to occur will be prohibited from entering the U.S. Noncommercial quantities are defined as amounts of rice for personal use and not for resale, including those transported in international passenger baggage, by mail or by courier.

In addition, commercial shipments of rice originating from countries where Khapra beetle is known to occur must be inspected and must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the shipment was inspected and found free of Khapra beetle. A phytosanitary certificate or phytosanitary certificate of re-export with the same additional declaration will also be required for commercial shipments of rice originating from countries known to have Khapra beetle that make entry into another country before re-exportation to the U.S.

These restrictions apply to all countries where Khapra beetle is known to occur, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cyprus, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.

According to APHIS, previous detections of Khapra beetle have resulted in massive, long term-control and eradication efforts at great cost to the American taxpayer. Established infestations are difficult to control because the beetle can survive without food for long periods of time, requires little moisture, hides in tiny cracks and crevices, and is relatively resistant to many insecticides and fumigants.

This year, CBP agriculture specialists have made 100 Khapra beetle interceptions at U.S. ports of entry compared to three to six per year in 2005 and 2006, and averaging about 15 per year from 2007 to 2009.

Infestation affects grain quality as well as quantity. Infestation of commodities with Khapra beetle can lead to the following consequences:

Economic loss of valuable grain or other domestic or export products

Lowered quality of products due to contamination

Costs associated with prevention and treatment

Consumer health risks when exposed to products contaminated with insect parts

In the U.S., infestation can result in the loss of export markets. If the Khapra beetle became established in the United States, other countries would likely place restrictions on imports of U.S. grain, cereal products, or seed.

Related information:

USDA Restricts the Importation of Commercial and Noncommercial Quantities of Rice from Countries Where Khapra Beetle Is Known to Occur:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2011/07/where_khapra_beetle.shtml

Indianapolis CBP Intercepts Global Destroyer Khapra Beetle: http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/07192011_4.xml

CBP Khapra Beetle Interceptions Surpass 2010 Numbers: http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/national/04182011_6.xml

-CBP-

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the 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 Department of Homeland Security US Customs and Border Protection July 25, 2011:

TUCSON, Ariz. — The following is a snapshot of certain Department of Homeland Security activities along the Southwest border. This rundown provides a thumbnail of each incident.

Joint Field Command Statistics –Over the weekend in Arizona

(Narcotics weights are measured in pounds)

Marijuana seized                                                                     10,012

Methamphetamines seized                                                   15

Cocaine seized                                                                        8

Outbound currency seized                                                      $3,280

Individuals presented in federal court for prosecution*         125

Individuals prosecuted under Operation Streamline*      93

Individuals prosecuted on federal drug charges*             21

*These numbers only represent those apprehended by Border Patrol and presented for prosecution.         

On July 22, Douglas Station agents apprehended a 48-year-old illegal immigrant with a prior conviction in Albuquerque, N.M., for attempting to commit child abuse (death or great bodily harm).  The subject will be presented for prosecution. 

On July 23, Ajo Border Patrol agents arrested a Mexican illegal immigrant on State Route 85 after he contacted the Ajo Station stating he wanted to turn himself in.  During questioning, the subject admitted he entered the United States illegally for the sole purpose of retrieving various types of firearms, ammunition and body armor for transport to Mexico.  Based on the information, agents recovered three rifles and two sets of steel body armor. The subject was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and is facing federal charges for immigration and firearms violations. 
 
On July 23, a 30-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico was apprehended by Douglas Station Border Patrol agents.  During processing, record checks through the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System revealed a 1999 conviction in California for lewd and lascivious acts with a child.  The subject is being prosecuted for re-entry of an aggravated felon.

On July 24, Ajo Station Border Patrol agents discovered two abandoned pickup trucks on State Route 85, approximately nine miles south of Why, Ariz..  Both vehicles were loaded with a combined 207 bundles of marijuana weighing 4,405 pounds.  Record checks revealed that one vehicle was reported stolen out of Riverside, Calif., while the other was reported stolen out of Phoenix. Both trucks turned over to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The narcotics marijuana will be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On July 22, a 21-year-old U.S. citizen man from Naco, Ariz., attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Naco Port and was referred for a secondary inspection. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery and removal of 11 packages of marijuana weighing more than 312 pounds with an estimated value of $156,000. The subject was taken into custody and referred to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 22, a 42-year-old Mexican man from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Dennis DeConcini Port in Nogales, Ariz., and was referred for additional inspection. Subsequently, a narcotics detection canine alerted to the vehicle. CBP officers searched the vehicle and discovered three packages of cocaine and five packages of methamphetamines. The cocaine, exceeding eight pounds, and more than nine pounds of methamphetamines, have a combined estimated value of $206,600. The subject was taken into custody and referred to ICE HSI for further investigation.  

On July 22, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen woman from San Luis, Sonora, attempted to enter the United States through a pedestrian lane at the San Luis Port and was referred for additional questioning. Officers conducted a routine pat down and found two vacuum-sealed bags of methamphetamines strapped to the woman’s torso. The drugs, weighing nearly seven pounds, have an estimated value of almost $106,000. The subject was taken into custody and referred to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 23, a 38-year-old Mexican woman from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Douglas Port and was referred for a secondary inspection. Subsequently, a narcotics detection canine alerted to the vehicle. Officers then discovered and removed 89 packages of marijuana with a combined weight of nearly 93 pounds and an estimated value of $46,300. The subject was taken into custody and referred to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 23, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen man from Hereford, Ariz., attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Naco Port and was referred for additional inspection. Subsequently, a narcotics detection canine alerted to the vehicle. CBP officers searched the vehicle and found 76 packages of marijuana weighing more than 97 pounds with an estimated value of $48,800. The subject was taken into custody and referred to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 23, a 64-year-old U.S. citizen man from Nogales, Ariz., attempted to enter the United States through the Morley pedestrian gate in Nogales and was referred for additional questioning. When officers conducted a records check on the individual, they discovered an outstanding arrest warrant on drug charges. After verifying the warrant, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office took custody of the subject without further incident.

On July 24, a 32-year-old U.S. citizen woman and a 53-year-old Mexican woman from Tucson, Ariz., attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Lukeville Port and were referred for additional inspection. The vehicle underwent a non-intrusive inspection. After noticing an anomaly, Customs and Border Protection officers removed the door panels and seats and found 64 packages of marijuana. The drugs, weighing more than 90 pounds, have an estimated value of $45,000. Both subjects were taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 24, a 26-year-old Mexican man from Caborca, Sonora, Mexico, attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Sasabe Port and was referred for further inspection. Subsequently, a narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. Further inspection led to the discovery and removal of 15 packages of marijuana weighing nearly 33 pounds and valued at nearly $16,500. The subject was referred to ICE HSI for further investigation.

In February, CBP announced the Arizona Joint Field Command (JFC) — an organizational realignment bringing together Border Patrol, Air and Marine, and Field Operations under a unified command structure to integrate CBP’s border security, commercial enforcement, and trade facilitation missions to more effectively meet the unique challenges faced in Arizona.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) promotes homeland security and public safety through the criminal and civil enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade and immigration. ICE and CBP collaborate in investigations regarding criminal organizations with a nexus to the border.

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, DHS has engaged in an unprecedented effort to bring focus and intensity to Southwest border security, coupled with a reinvigorated, smart and effective approach to enforcing immigration laws in the interior of our country.

– DHS –

Press Release from US Customs and Border Protection July 22, 2011:

CBP Officers Seize Tractor Trailer Loaded with Marijuana

NOGALES, Ariz. — A 55-year-old Mexican man from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was arrested yesterday when he attempted to enter the United States through the Mariposa Commercial Port in Nogales with more than $400,000 worth of marijuana hidden in a tile shipment.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Field Operations officers working at the port referred the driver for a secondary inspection where a non-intrusive inspection (NII) revealed anomalies within the tile. A narcotics detection canine then alerted to the shipment, which led to the discovery of 206 packages of marijuana weighing 810 pounds. The driver was taken into custody and referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

Acting Nogales Port Director Craig Hope applauded the CBP officers for their attention to detail and the continued results. “Infrastructure such as NII and CBP canine teams give our personnel additional resources to combat the illicit flow of drugs and crimes associated with smuggling at and between Arizona’s ports,” he said.

Over the last several years, NII technology has been a key component of CBP’s layered enforcement strategy. Technologies in use at air, sea and land border ports also include large scale X-ray and gamma-ray imaging systems, as well as a variety of portable and hand-held devices.

NII technology is viewed as a force multiplier that enables CBP officers and agents to scan or examine a larger portion of commercial traffic for contraband while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade. The technology gives CBP the capability to perform thorough examinations of cargo without resorting to the costly, time-consuming process of unloading cargo for manual searches.

In March 2009, the Department of Homeland Security launched the Southwest Border Initiative to bring unprecedented focus and intensity to securing the Southwest border, coupled with a reinvigorated, smart, and effective approach to enforcing our immigration laws.

Field Operations officers’ primary mission is to prevent terrorist and terrorist weapons from entering the United States. They screen all people, vehicles, and goods passing through our ports while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. They also conduct border-related duties such as narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

–CBP–

Photo courtesy of US Customs and Border Protection: Hidden ammunition seized at Mariposa Port

CBP Officers Seize Ammunition at Mariposa Port

NOGALES, Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Mariposa Port stopped more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition from going into Mexico, Tuesday.

CBP officers conducting outbound operations at the Mariposa Port referred a 34-year-old U.S. citizen female, accompanied by her two minor children, for a secondary inspection. When officers inspected the vehicle, they discovered ammunition and high-caliber magazine cartridges concealed in duffel bags. Agents seized 4,050 rounds of ammunition and 100 AK-47 magazines. The subject was taken into custody and referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.  Custody of the minor children was turned over to a family member.

Nogales Port Director Guadalupe Ramirez applauded the CBP officers for their attention to detail and the continued results.

“Ammunition and weapons smuggling typify the true need for outbound inspections,” Ramirez said. “Like catching illegal drugs and other contraband coming into the United States, it’s just as important to prevent smuggling proceeds from funding further illegal ventures.”

In March of 2009, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced outbound operations as part of the Southwest border initiatives designed to crack down on Mexican drug cartels through enhanced security.  Since the implementation of outbound operations, the ports of Arizona have seen record illicit currency and weapons seizures.

An apprehension results in a person being charged with criminal activity and 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.

CBP’s primary mission is anti-terrorism. Field Operations 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 traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, and enforcing trade laws.

- CBP -

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation’s borders at and between the 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 July 19, 2011:

Busy Weekend of Drug Seizures at Douglas Port

DOUGLAS, Ariz. —U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations officers in Douglas seized several loads of marijuana over the weekend with a combined weight of more than 365 pounds with an estimated value of nearly $200,000.

“Each day a CBP officer works at the Port results in another day of valuable field experience,” said Douglas Port Director Michael Humphries. “That experience can be put to use in detecting a variety of illegal contraband.”

Sunday, a 19-year-old Mexican man and his 38-year-old Mexican female passenger attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane and were referred for a secondary inspection. Subsequently, a narcotics detection canine alerted to a spare tire where officers located 24 packages of marijuana weighing more than 28 pounds.

Later, a 24-year-old U.S. citizen female and her 22-year-old Mexican female passenger were taken into custody after a detection canine led to the discovery of 62 packages of marijuana weighing nearly 80 pounds.

On Saturday, narcotics detection canines led officers to find 16 packages of marijuana weighing more than 20 pounds in a vehicle driven by a 35-year-old Mexican man. He and his 18-year-old female passenger were arrested.

A 43-year-old Mexican man was apprehended after a narcotics detection canine alerted to his vehicle when he attempted to enter the United States. Hidden in his vehicle, officers found 25 packages of marijuana weighing nearly 76 pounds.

A 19-year-old U.S. citizen man and his 22-year-old U.S. citizen female passenger were arrested after a narcotics detection canine helped officers stop the couple from bringing 70 pounds of marijuana into the United States.

Friday, a 27-year-old Mexican woman and her 18-year-old sister were apprehended after a narcotics detection canine alerted to the rear quarter panels. CBP officers removed 57 packages of marijuana weighing more than 91 pounds.

In every incident, the subjects were taken into custody and referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further investigation. The 18-year-old sister in Friday’s incident was returned to Mexico without incident.

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.

Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers’ primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, and enforcing trade laws. While anti-terrorism is CBP’s primary mission, the inspection process at ports of entry associated with this mission results in numerous enforcement actions in all categories.

-CBP-
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of U.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.

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