C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers Stop $1.8 Million in Narcotics from Entering Through Nogales Ports of Entry

(Tuesday, September 29, 2009)

Nogales, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers screening travelers entering the country at the DeConcini port of entry in Nogales, Ariz., Sunday began the week with three significant narcotic seizures and put a serious dent in smugglers’ attempts.

Early Sunday morning at 6:10 a.m. CBP officers screening travelers referred a blue 1996 Oldsmobile driven by a 32-year-old Nogales, Sonora man for a more intensive inspection. CBP officers noticed he was nervous and escorted him to a waiting area. A CBP narcotics detector dog was called-in and alerted to the odor of narcotics near the dash area. CBP officers used a mirror to look under the dash and discovered a total 10 packages of methamphetamine wrapped in black tape. CBP officers seized a total of almost 11 pounds of methamphetamine.

The second interception occurred at 2:42 p.m. at the DeConcini port of entry when CBP officers referred a tan 2000 Windstar minivan for an intensive inspection. CBP officers received a negative declaration from the driver, a 34-year-old Nogales, Sonora man accompanied by his wife a daughter. CBP officers, as a part of their layered inspection strategy, used a tool that measures density and located an anomaly near the rear bumper. CBP officers smelled fresh paint and looked under the carpeted rear deck area of the minivan. CBP officers found a non-factory compartment and when they opened it, hidden inside were packages of cocaine wrapped in clear tape. CBP officers seized 16 packages of cocaine with a total weight of almost 38 pounds.

The final incident happened at 3:45 p.m. when CBP officers screening travelers entering the U.S. at the DeConcicni port of entry referred a 34-year-old man from Magdalena, Sonora driving a blue 1985 Chevrolet pick-up for an intensive inspection. A CBP narcotics detector dog alerted to the odor of narcotics near the dash area of the truck. CBP officers discovered and seized a total of 24 packages of marijuana weighing nearly 40 pounds hidden in the firewall of the pick-up.

The three cases yielded a total 88 pounds of narcotics with an estimated street value of $1,829,977 interdicted by CBP officers at the Nogales port of entry.

In all three cases, the drivers and the narcotics were seized and all three subjects were arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.

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://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_re ... 2009_4.xml