Border crime report from US Customs and Border Protection

by Hugh Holub on Jul. 11, 2011

From Department of Homeland Security US Customs and Border Protection July 8, 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 past 48 hours in Arizona
(Narcotics weights are measured in pounds)

Marijuana seized 7,473
Cocaine seized 44
Methamphetamines seized 3
Heroin seized 18
Outbound currency seized $58,217
Individuals presented in federal court for prosecution* 149
Individuals prosecuted under Operation Streamline* 87
Individuals prosecuted on federal drug charges* 15

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

On July 6, a 17-year-old U.S. citizen female attempted to enter the United States through a pedestrian lane at the San Luis Port and was referred for secondary inspection. Once in secondary, a CBP officer discovered three packages of methamphetamines wrapped around her mid-section. The narcotics weighed nearly four pounds with an estimated value of $56,000. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security investigations (HSI) for further investigation.

On July 6, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen female attempted to enter the United States through a Douglas Port vehicle lane and was referred for a secondary inspection. In secondary, a detection canine alerted to the vehicle. Subsequently, officers removed 49 packages of marijuana from the doors, spare tire and trunk. The narcotics weighed more than 65 pounds valued at nearly $33,000. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 6, a 37-year-old Mexican male attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Douglas Port and was referred for a secondary inspection where a narcotics detection canine alerted to the trunk. Further inspection led to the removal of 124 packages of marijuana from the backseat and trunk area, with a weight of more than 201 pounds and an estimated value of $100,716. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 6, a 22-year-old U.S. citizen female and a 21-year-old Mexican female passenger attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Naco Port. They were referred for a secondary inspection where a detection canine alerted positively to the presence of drugs inside the vehicle’s spare tire. Subsequently, CBP officers removed eight packages of marijuana that weighed nearly 52 pounds with an estimated value of approximately $26,000. The driver was taken into custody and referred to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 6, a 29-year-old U.S. citizen male attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Mariposa Port in Nogales and was referred for a secondary inspection. A CBP canine alerted positively to the presence of drugs under the vehicle. Further inspection by CBP officers led to the discovery of more than 40 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of $20,500. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 7, a 32-year-old Mexican male attempted to enter the United States through a Dennis DeConcini Port vehicle lane and was referred for a secondary inspection. During secondary inspection, CBP Officers used a non-intrusive imaging device and noticed abnormalities inside the fuel tank. Subsequently, officers discovered 17 packages of cocaine weighing more than 44 pounds with an estimated value of $403,000. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 7, a 44-year-old Legal Permanent Resident Mexican female attempted to enter the United States through a Douglas Port vehicle lane and was referred for a secondary inspection. In secondary, a detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle’s quarter panels. Further inspection led officers to four packages of marijuana weighing nearly nine pounds with an estimated value of $4,300. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 7, a 36-year-old Mexican male attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Douglas Port and was referred for a secondary inspection. During secondary, a CBP officer using a non-intrusive density measuring device noticed anomalies in the spare tire. When the tire was inspected further, officers found 33 packages of marijuana weighing nearly 54 pounds. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 7, a 40-year-old Mexican male attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Dennis DeConcini Port and was referred for a secondary inspection. Subsequently, a detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the gas tank. CBP officers removed the gas tank and found 41 packages of marijuana weighing approximately 135 pounds. The subject was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 7, a 32-year-old Mexican male attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Dennis DeConcini Port and was referred for a secondary inspection. Once in secondary, a Non-Intrusive X-ray inspection of the vehicle was conducted and revealed discrepancies in the vehicle’s fuel tank. The fuel tank was removed and 17 packages of marijuana were hidden inside. The drugs weighed more than 44 pounds with an estimated value of $22,000. The subject was taken into custody and referred to ICE HSI for further investigation.

On July 6, approximately 10 pounds of heroin, with an estimated street value of $136,000, was seized by Border Patrol agents and CBP officers working at the Interstate 19 Border Patrol Checkpoint. The seizure occurred after a detection canine team alerted to a vehicle during primary inspection. The driver, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen female, was referred to secondary where agents discovered seven packages of heroin concealed inside her purse and one additional package taped to her leg. The subject, vehicle, and narcotics were transported to the Nogales Border Patrol station for processing. (Photos Available)

On July 6, Ajo agents recovered 12 bundles of marijuana that were abandoned north of Lukeville, Ariz. The narcotics weighed approximately 959 pounds with an estimated value of $479,500 and were transported to the Ajo Station.

On July 7, CBP Officers assisting at the Interstate 19 Border Patrol Checkpoint were conducting primary vehicle inspections when they noticed that the passenger appeared nervous and did not resemble the photo on the identification she presented. During a secondary inspection, she admitted that the document did not belong to her and that she was a Mexican national illegally present in the U.S. She was apprehended and will face removal from the U.S. The driver, a 31-year-old U.S. citizen, and passenger were taken into custody on alien smuggling charges.

On July 7, Casa Grande agents observed suspected cross-border activity while utilizing Mobile Surveillance System technology. Agents responded to the location and found 13 bundles of marijuana hidden in the brush. The marijuana weighed 707 pounds and was transported to the Casa Grande Station for destruction.

On July 7, Casa Grande agents discovered 22 bundles of marijuana abandoned in a wash near Topawa, Ariz. The bundles, weighing 512 pounds, were seized and transported to the Casa Grande Station.

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.

- DHS —

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