Yuma News Now

Douglas, Arizona - United States Customs and Border Protection officers at the Douglas port of entry stopped four narcotics smuggling attempts this weekend, totaling over 700 pounds of marijuana and with an estimated street value of over $1 million.

“Douglas CBP officers’ inspectional techniques, training and commitment significantly contributed to the interception of these narcotics. CBP officers are the front line and our best defense in preventing these drugs from getting into our communities,” said Michael Humphries, CBP port director, Douglas.

The first seizure happened Friday May 15, just after 3:30 p.m., when a 21-year old male and United States citizen driving a 2000 GMC pick-up 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 gas tank of pick-up and upon removal of gas tank 4 metal boxes were discovered. The four metal boxes contained marijuana totaling over 118 pounds.

On Saturday May 16, at around 5:50 a.m., CBP officer’s also seized almost 183 pounds of marijuana and arrested a 25-year-old Mexican national male after finding 22 packages of the drug hidden in a false bed compartment of a 2006 Ford F-250 pick-up.

On that same date at 2:00 p.m., CBP officer’s screening incoming vehicles became suspicious of the driver of a 1996 GMC van. 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. Once in secondary the vehicle was searched with a non-intrusive imaging device which revealed anomalies in the fuel tank. Upon removal of the gas tank 131 pounds of marijuana were discovered. The driver, a 22-year-old United States citizen, was arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.

Sunday May 17, at about 1:00 a.m., a CBP officer screening incoming vehicles became suspicious of a 19-year-old female United States citizen and driver of a 2000 Ford F-150 pick-up. 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 pick-up had a false floor loaded with marijuana. Officer’s removed 154 packages of the drug weighing more than 267 pounds.

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.