C.B.P. News Release

CBP Office of Field Operations Announces FY 2010 Arizona Statistics

(Thursday, February 24, 2011)

Tucson, Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists at the Arizona ports of entry seized significant amounts of narcotics, currency and fraudulent documents, uncovered numerous immigration violations and stopped the introduction of potential pests and diseases on prohibited agricultural products during the last fiscal year.

Officers at the ports of entry seized more than 123,000 pounds of narcotics, with an estimated bulk value of more than $161 million. Seizures included more than 119,000 pounds of marijuana, close to 3,300 pounds of cocaine, more than 787 pounds of methamphetamines, and 263 pounds of heroin. During fiscal year 2009, officers seized more than 109,000 pounds of narcotics (valued at $148 million), including more than 105,000 pounds of marijuana, 3,300 pounds of cocaine, 730 pounds of methamphetamines, and close to 190 pounds of heroin.

Officers seized $7,287,622 in undeclared currency and apprehended 447 people with warrants out for their arrest on a variety of charges including assault, rape, child molestation, narcotics possession, and 1st degree murder. During fiscal year 2009, officers seized $4.9 million in undeclared currency and apprehended 437 people with warrants.

Officers also discovered 8,473 inadmissible aliens mixed in with legitimate travelers and seized 1,439 fake or fraudulent documents. In fiscal year 2009, officers discovered 7,837 inadmissible aliens and seized 1,530 fake or fraudulent documents.

Agriculture specialists intercepted 66,085 quarantine materials (including eggs, raw chicken, pork products, animal hides and trophies, prohibited agricultural items, and prohibited plants). They discovered 8,164 significant pests, preventing unknown damage to American agriculture, livestock, forestry, and food supply industries. In fiscal year 2009, they intercepted 65,354 quarantine materials and discovered 5,165 significant pests.

CBP officers and agriculture specialists accomplished this while screening more than 24 million travelers (including 7.7 million pedestrians), 6.8 million private vehicles, 12,986 buses, 8,902 commercial aircraft, and 4,332 private aircraft. In fiscal year 2009, they screened 27.9 million travelers (including 8.3 million pedestrians), 7.4 million private vehicles, 14,447 busses, 7,421 commercial aircraft, and 4,486 private aircraft.

CBP also processed 375,397 commercial vehicles, 602 commercial trains (with 52,617 railcars), and processed more than close to $19 billion in imports. In fiscal year 2009, CBP processed 340,962 commercial vehicles, 583 commercial trains (including 47,450 railcars), and $17 billion in imports.

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
Brian Levin
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (520) 407-2319 or
(800) 973-2867
Fax: (520) 407-2350

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2011_2.xml