Douglas, Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stopped a drug smuggling attempt when they seized more than 30 pounds of crystal meth concealed inside a non factory compartment built into the fire wall of a vehicle.
On Dec. 10, at
approximately 1 p.m., CBP officers were screening traffic coming from
Mexico. The officers selected a 2005 Dodge Ram pickup truck for
inspection. The vehicle was being driven by an 18-year-old man. The man
was identified as a U.S. citizen and resident of Hermosillo, Sonora,
Mexico. The CBP officers discovered the fire wall inside the engine
compartment had been altered and was being used to smuggle packages of
crystal meth. It was also discovered that the space behind the backseat
of the pickup had also been altered and was full of packages of crystal
meth. The total weight of crystal meth was more than 30 pounds with an
estimated street value of $1.4 million.
“This
was a significant seizure,” said Ernestine Morris, assistant port
director for the Douglas port of entry. “Crystal meth is a very
dangerous and addicting drug and is responsible for the disruption of
families and entire communities. Customs and Border Protection remains
vigilant as guardians of our nation.”
CBP
officers seized the vehicle and the crystal meth. The man was turned
over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation
and prosecution.
A criminal complaint
is simply the method by which a person is 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
The Office
of Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports
of entry. 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 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