C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers Put Close to $9 Million Dent on the Drug Smuggling War
(Tuesday, October 12, 2010)

San Luis, Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Luis Port of Entry arrested three for attempting to smuggle approximately 136 pounds of cocaine and approximately 34 pounds of methamphetamine into the United States. The estimated street value of the seized drugs totaled $8,656,000.

On Oct. 7, CBP officers encountered a 45-year-old man attempting to enter the U.S. while driving a Ford Taurus. An officer, while conducting the primary interview, noted discrepancies to the vehicle the man was driving and referred him to the secondary lot for inspection. Upon closer examination of the vehicle, the officers determined the front and rear bumpers contained more than 63 pounds of cocaine. The man was arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Oct. 8, officers also encountered a 19-year-old woman and her passenger that attempted to enter the U.S. while driving a Nissan Xterra SUV. During the primary interview, a CBP officer discovered discrepancies on the vehicle and referred the women to the secondary lot for inspection. The inspection resulted in the discovery of more than 73 pounds of cocaine in the gas tank of the vehicle with the assistance of a narcotic detector dog. The women were arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Oct. 10 also brought in positive results for CBP officers when a 21-year-old woman attempted to smuggle close to 34 pounds of methamphetamine in a Ford F-150. During the primary interview the woman exhibited signs of nervousness and was referred to the inspection lot. In the lot, CBP officers discovered 16 packages concealed in the trucks rear seat with the assistance of a narcotic detector dog. The officers arrested the woman and turned her over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

On the same day, officers intercepted a man who attempted to use a U.S. passport which did not belong to him. The man claimed to be the person pictured on the document but CBP officers noted he did not resemble that of the rightful owner. The man was charged as an impostor, taken into custody and held for immigration processing.

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.

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.

Contacts For This News Release
Teresa Small
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (928) 627-8854 Ext: 207 or
(928) 627-3252

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 122010.xml