Nogales, Ariz. — Inspections of inbound vehicles and pedestrians by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Nogales, Ariz., resulted in the seizure of large amounts of narcotics this past weekend.
From
Friday, Nov. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 21, officers processed
approximately 75,000 travelers. Through the course of the weekend
officers seized more than 236 pounds of marijuana, more than two pounds
of methamphetamine and nearly 160 pounds of cocaine. The street value of
the narcotics seized is estimated at $2 million.
The contraband was hidden in various compartments of vehicles. Narcotics were also found strapped to a traveler’s body.
The
weekend seizures began on Friday, Nov. 19, at approximately 7:50 a.m.,
when a 34-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora, was referred to secondary
for further inspection at the Dennis DeConcini pedestrian entry. The
inspection resulted in the discovery of more than two pounds of
methamphetamine strapped to the man’s legs.
Later
that same day at the primary vehicle lanes at the Mariposa POE, CBP
officers encountered a 23-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora, driving a
1998 Dodge Durango. The man and vehicle were referred to secondary area
for further inspection. A search of the vehicle’s gas tank resulted in a
seizure of 28 packages of marijuana totaling more than 81 pounds.
Friday,
Nov. 19 activity ended with the seizure of more than 21 pounds of
cocaine concealed in a 2002 Dodge Intrepid driven by a 20-year-old man
from Rio Rico, Arizona.
On Saturday,
Nov. 20, at approximately 11 a.m., CBP officers referred for inspection a
Ford Fiesta with two male occupants from Hermosillo Sonora, Mexico. The
vehicle was found to contain 24 packages of marijuana totaling more
than 85 pounds.
On Sunday, Nov. 21, at
approximately 10:30 a.m., CBP officer working DeConcini encountered a
45-year-old male from Guamuchil, Sinaloa, Mexico driving a 2008 Toyota
FJ Cruiser. The vehicle inspection resulted in the discovery of 57
packages of cocaine totaling more than 138 pounds.
Later
that Sunday at approximately 1:20 p.m., a man and woman from
Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, aboard a 1999 Ford F-150 were encountered at
the DeConcini Port of Entry. The vehicle and the two travelers were
referred to secondary for further inspection. A search of the pickup
truck resulted in the discovery of seven packages of marijuana totaling
more than 69 pounds.
In all seizures,
the narcotics and vehicles were seized and suspects were turned over to
Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.
Nogales
Port Director Guadalupe Ramirez commended his officers by saying “Our
enforcement efforts this weekend are a direct result of the hard work,
dedication and commitment of our employees.”
U.
S. Customs and Border Protection is responsible for securing our
borders at the ports of entry. Our 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 the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with
this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in
all categories.
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 terrorist weapons out of the
country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
No comments:
Post a Comment