Arizona CBP Officers Seize Marijuana, Stop Stolen Auto, Arrest Fugitive

(Wednesday, September 23, 2009)




Nogales, Ariz. - Customs and Border Protection officers at the Nogales, Ariz. ports of entry wrapped up a busy weekend with a narcotics seizure, an arrest of a wanted fugitive and discoveries of a stolen auto and numerous immigration violations.


On Friday, September 18th CBP officers conducting southbound operations at the DeConcini Port of Entry stopped a white 2004 Ford F250 driven by a 21-year-old Tucson, Ariz. man. CBP Officers checked law enforcement systems and discovered the pick-up had been reported stolen from Tucson, the driver and the pick-up was turned over to Nogales Police Department.


Saturday CBP officers screening travelers at the DeConcini Port of Entry referred a 33-year-old Nogales, Sonora woman driving a white 2002 Jeep Cherokee for an intensive inspection. CBP Officers used a high-tech tool to locate a density anomaly in the spare tire and back seat area of the vehicle. CBP Officers discovered a total of 44 pounds of Marijuana hidden inside the spare and the back seat. The street value of the narcotics seized by the officers is estimated to be over $104,000.


Immigration Violators attempting illegal entry were also disappointed, as CBP Officers screening travelers at the DeConcini Port of Entry arrested sixteen for various immigration violations ranging from false claims to U.S. citizenship to several imposters bearing valid entry documents.


In addition to the narcotics and immigration violators, an individual was arrested entering at the DeConcini Port of Entry when CBP Officers querying law enforcement systems found she was wanted by the U.S. Marshals. She was apprehended and turned over to state and local authorities for proper processing.


Those arrested for narcotic violations were turned over to Immigration Customs Enforcement for further investigation and the narcotics were seized.


http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2009_3.xml