More than a ton of pot seized in Lukeville

Posted: Dec 02, 2009 6:44 AM PST
Updated: Dec 02, 2009 6:44 AM PST
Posted by Scott Kilbury e-mail skilbury@kold.com

Lukeville, AZ (News release) - As a result of two separate drug-smuggling attempts at the Lukeville Port of Entry on Sunday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than 2,773 pounds of marijuana and arrested five people.

The first failed smuggling attempted happened early in the morning, just before 9:00 a.m., when officers encountered the driver and two passengers of a Ford F-350 pulling a recreational vehicle trailer. The vehicle and occupants were referred for a thorough inspection when a CBP officer questioning the driver became suspicious.

To assist with the inspection, officers used a Narcotics Detection Dog named "Mike" to screen both the truck and trailer. When "Mike" alerted to narcotics odor coming from the trailer, officers searched and found compartments that, when opened, revealed 52 bundles of marijuana.

The truck, trailer, and more than 1,306 pounds of marijuana were seized. The driver and two occupants, both US citizens from Phoenix, were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation. The second attempt happened around 4:00 p.m., when officers screening travelers and vehicles entering the country questioned the driver and occupant of a Dodge pickup pulling a trailer. When the officer became suspicious during the initial questioning, the vehicle and occupants were sent in for an inspection. During the inspection, officers discovered a false floor in the trailer containing 64 bundles of marijuana.

The truck, trailer, and almost 1,467 pounds of marijuana were seized. The driver and passenger, both US citizens from Peoria, were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.

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.

The Office of 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.

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