Thread: AZ: CBP Thwart Multiple Drug Smuggling Attempts

CBP officers thwart multiple drug smuggling attempts

February 17, 2011 10:44 AM
BY JAMES GILBERT - SUN STAFF WRITER

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz., prevented several drug smuggling attempts over the last week, arresting a total of eight individuals, four of whom were juveniles.

In addition, CBP officers also arrested four drug mules while they were attempting to leave the country through the port after backpacking drugs in from Mexico.

According to Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer Teresa Small, on Feb. 13, CBP officers at the port stopped four men who were leaving the U.S. and headed for Mexico, for an outbound inspection, in which they were looking for weapons, undeclared currency, or any other possible export violation.

During the inspection, the officers discovered the four men had been previously deported from the U.S. and were unlawfully present in the country. Also, the men admitted the reason they were in the country was because they had carried backpacks of marijuana into the U.S. when they snuck into the country.

“We actually do see this on occasion,â€

Yuma Border Patrol agents seize marijuana
February 17, 2011 7:05 PM
BY JAMES GILBERT - SUN STAFF WRITER

U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Sector seized over 297 pounds of marijuana and arrested five suspected smugglers Thursday.

According to Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Kenneth Quillin, of the Yuma Sector Communications Division, shortly after midnight agents assigned to the Yuma Station were conducting line watch duties when they discovered that five people had crossed illegally from Mexico near San Luis, Ariz.

“The agents detected their footprints and followed them a short distance, locating the marijuana and arresting the individuals,â€