Yuma News Now

Douglas, Arizona - Customs and Border Protection officer’s at the Douglas port of entry foiled six narcotics smuggling attempts this weekend, totaling over 100 pounds of marijuana and worth more than $100,000.

“These interceptions are a direct result of the officer’s attention to detail and reflect their tireless pursuit of criminals who smuggle contraband into the United States,” said CBP Port Director Michael Humphries.

The first seizure happened Friday just after 6:30 p.m., when a 19-year-old male and United States citizen driving a 1996 Dodge Intrepid applied for entry into the United States through the vehicle primary lanes. A Customs and Border Protection officer screening travelers waiting to enter the U.S. selected the driver and vehicle for inspection due to discrepancies to the vehicle.

The vehicle was escorted to the secondary lot where the officers continued the intensive inspection along with the assistance of a narcotic detector dog. The dog alerted the officers to the rear area of the vehicle where 7 packages of marijuana were discovered totaling over 18 pounds.

On Saturday at around 3:30 p.m., CBP officer’s also seized almost 40 pounds of marijuana and arrested a 21-year-old Mexican national female after finding 23 packages of the drug hidden throughout a 1998 Pontiac Grand Am.

Sunday at about 11:35 a.m., a CBP officer screening incoming vehicles became suspicious of a 28-year-old female Mexican national and driver of a 2000 Chevrolet Malibu. Based on her answers to routine questions and officer observations, CBP officers, assisted by a canine unit, searched the vehicle thoroughly and discovered that the rocker panels were loaded with marijuana. Officer’s removed 12 packages of the drug weighing more than 25 pounds.The vehicles and marijuana were seized and case was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.

On the same date, just after 6 p.m., on three separate incidents CBP officer’s screening travelers entering in from Mexico encountered three United States citizens applying for entry into the U.S. through the pedestrian area. The officer’s referred all three men into the passport control office due to their nervous behavior during the routine questioning.

Once in the office and during a more intense interview, attentive CBP officer’s noticed all men had bulges around their thighs. The bulges turned out to be packages of marijuana taped to their body under their pants, which had a total combined weight of nine pounds.

The marijuana was seized and case was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.