Border Patrol And CBP Activities

Sexual Predator Sentenced to 37 Months in PrisonBanned for Life

Tucson, Ariz. – A 37-year-old man from Guatemala City, Guatemala, apprehended by Nogales Station Border Patrol agents in April 2011, was sentenced Jan. 23 to 37 months of confinement. 

Elias Natanael Santos-Milian

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted Elias Natanael Santos-Milian following his April apprehension for attempting to illegally re-enter the United States. During processing at the Nogales Station, agents used the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System to learn that Santos-Milian was convicted in 2010 in Los Angeles for sexual battery. He was sentenced to one year in jail.

Following the Border Patrol’s initial processing, the case was submitted to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for re-entry of a felon. Santos-Milian will be formally removed from the U.S. following his 37-month incarceration and is now banned for life from all legalization processes.

All illegal immigrants apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using IAFIS. This vital tool accesses criminal records throughout the United States, thereby enabling agents to quickly identify violent criminals and wanted persons. 

Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity and remain anonymous by calling the Border Patrol at (877) 872-7435 toll free.

 San Luis CBP Officers Seize MethamphetamineDrugs valued at nearly $346,000

San Luis, Ariz. — Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Tucson Field Office seized more than 22 pounds of methamphetamine worth nearly $346,000 at the San Luis Port Wednesday.

A 45-year-old female Mexican national attempting to enter the United States was selected for a secondary inspection of her Pontiac sedan. After a detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs, officers located 20 packages of methamphetamine from a non-factory compartment in the dash. The drugs and vehicle were processed for seizure. The woman was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. 

Individuals arrested are charged with a criminal complaint, which 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. 

CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

 Federal, State & Local Agencies Participate in OperationSignificant Seizure of Narcotics & Weapons

Tucson, Ariz. – A multi-agency operation, dubbed Operation Silverbell, resulted in the arrest of nine suspects and the seizure of an AK-47 assault rifle and 498 pounds of marijuana Wednesday night near Interstate 8 in Stanfield, Ariz.

Joint Operations in southern Arizona result in drug & weapon seizure

At approximately 10 p.m., federal, state and local agencies jointly denied smugglers the ability to deliver narcotics to their designated location. The operation, led by the Bureau of Land Management, included Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operation (ERO), the Arizona Department of Public Safety; Tucson Sector’s Border Patrol; Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Air and Marine; and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

“The Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats is a great initiative. It brings together all the right players and unites them working towards a common goal,” stated Jon Young, State Chief Ranger – Arizona.

The operation, which involved the use of detection equipment and air assets, illustrated unprecedented levels of cooperation, coordination and communication between agencies to deny, degrade, disrupt and dismantle smuggling organizations. The Border Patrol is committed to working with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to keep our communities safe.

 Nogales CBP Officers Seize 14 Pounds of Meth

Nogales, Ariz. — Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Tucson Field Office seized more than 14 pounds of methamphetamine Thursday, valued at nearly $224,000.

Methamphetamine seized by CBP officers at Nogales Port.

Officers working at the Dennis DeConcini Port referred a 30-year-old Mexican national for a secondary inspection of his Ford SUV when he attempted to enter the United States. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs, officers located 10 packages of methamphetamine in non-factory compartments in both of the front quarter panels. The drugs and vehicle were processed for seizure. The subject was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. 

Individuals arrested are charged with a criminal complaint, which 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. 

CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

 Agents Seize Nearly $700,000 in NarcoticsSeizures include brown heroin

Tucson, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents seized marijuana and heroin Wednesday with a combined value of nearly $700,000.

Ajo Station agents working in the west desert responded to a report of possible narcotics trafficking and discovered 25 backpacks full of marijuana concealed under rocks.

Nogales Station agents assigned to the Interstate 19 checkpoint, conducting a transportation check on a passenger shuttle, questioned a male Mexican national wearing a backpack beneath his jacket. An inspection of the backpack revealed small packages wrapped in black tape, which turned out to be more than six pounds of brown heroin worth an estimated $82,000. The man and narcotics were transported to the Nogales Station for further processing. The Nogales, Sonora native now faces possible federal charges. 

Meanwhile, agents assigned to Ajo’s Field Training Unit were conducting training operations in the vicinity of the Village of Gu Vo in the west desert when they responded to possible narcotics trafficking and discovered 25 backpacks of marijuana concealed under rocks. The marijuana had a combined weight of 1,195 pounds and an estimated value of $597,500. Agents transported the narcotics to the Ajo Station for processing. 

Transnational criminal organizations are using various methods to transport narcotics into our communities. The Tucson Sector Border Patrol, however, is committed to disrupting their attempts. 

Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling (877) 872-7435 toll free.

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.