Yuma News Now

Douglas, Arizona - United States Customs and Border Protection officers at the Douglas port of entry intercepted three narcotics smuggling attempts totaling 364 pounds of marijuana with a combined street value at $875,000.

“This is a significant seizure of narcotics at the port and it exemplifies the training and inspection skill that our officers utilize every day,” said Ernestine Morris, CBP assistant port director in Douglas.

On Tuesday May 12 at around 2:30 p.m., a 24-year-old male identified as a Mexican national was driving a gold 1993 Ford Taurus. The man 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 male and his vehicle for inspection. A CBP narcotic detector dog also alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle. Intensive examination of vehicle yielded packages hidden throughout the interior of vehicle. CBP officers removed 32 packages containing 66 pounds of marijuana.

That same day at around 4:30 p.m., an 18-year-old female Mexican national was driving a 1998 Ford Ranger. The female 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 female and her vehicle for inspection. The woman was escorted to the vehicle secondary inspection area where the officers conducted an intensive search with the assistance of a narcotic detector dog “Grand”. The dog alerted the officers to the gas tank and tires of the vehicle. The tires contained metal collars that were securely fastened to the rims allowing the tires to be properly inflated. All compartments contained tightly compressed marijuana. A total of 202 pounds of marijuana was removed from these compartments.

On Wednesday, May 13, at around 7 p.m., a CBP officer was screening travelers entering the U.S. from Mexico. The CBP officer referred a 21-year-old female Mexican national driving a 1994 Mercury Cougar. At the secondary inspectional area, a closer examination of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 46 packages hidden throughout the interior of vehicle. The total weight of the narcotic was 96 pounds of marijuana.

The vehicles and marijuana were seized and cases 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.