Border Patrol And Customs And Border Protection Reports

El Centro Border Patrol Nabs Drug Smugglers

Imperial County, CA. – Earlier this week, U.S. Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector arrested a 56 and 54-year-old male attempting to smuggle marijuana through the Highway 111 and Highway 86 Checkpoints.

Containers used to hold illegal narcotics

The first incident occurred after Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio station conducted a search of a tractor-trailer at the Highway 111 Checkpoint near Niland, Calif. During the search, agents discovered two sealed containers containing packages of marijuana. The marijuana weighed approximately 155 pounds and was given an estimated street value of $123,000.

The driver was arrested and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the tractor-trailer and marijuana.

	155 pounds of marijuana seized by U.S. Border Patrol

That same day, Border Patrol agents at the Highway 86 Checkpoint near Westmorland, Calif. discovered 17 brick-like bundles of marijuana in an a hidden compartment inside a Isuzu SUV. The marijuana weighed approximately 33 pounds and was given an estimated value of $26,560. 

The driver was arrested and turned over to the Imperial County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force.

CBP Officers Intercept Illicit Currency

Nogales, AZ. — Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to Tucson Field Office seized nearly $261,000 in unreported U.S. currency Tuesday from a woman headed for Mexico through the Dennis DeConcini Port.

CBP officers seized nearly $261,000 in unreported U.S. currency Tuesday from a woman headed for Mexico through the Dennis DeConcini Port.

Officers conducting outbound inspections selected a 40-year-old Mexican woman and her teen-age son for additional questioning, and a closer examination of their Buick sedan. When officers noticed someone had tampered with the gas tank, they decided to remove it for further inspection. Inside the tank, officers found 21 packages containing $260,640. 

The unreported funds and vehicle were processed for seizure. The woman was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Her son was released to family members without further incident.

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, unprecedented shifts in staffing and infrastructure at Arizona’s ports have improved the focus and intensity of operations. These shifts are resulting in more narcotics interceptions; while tougher outbound enforcement is yielding record interceptions of unreported currency, weapons and wanted felons.

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.

 CBP Officers make Two Large Marijuana Busts at New Mexico Ports

El Paso, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Santa Teresa and Columbus ports of entry seized 1,124 pounds of marijuana in two seizures Thursday. The seizures capped off a busy enforcement week which netted area CBP officers more than 3,000 pounds of marijuana.

CBP officers working at the Columbus port of entry discovered 605 pounds of marijuana hidden in a variety of compartments in a vehicle that entered the port from Mexico on February 2, 2012.

“CBP officers are working hard and the results are impressive,” said Ana Hinojosa, Director of Field Operations in El Paso. “Every day they are making a positive contribution to our community by stopping drug smugglers, illegal immigrants, and other violators before they enter the country and cause harm.”

CBP officers at the Columbus port of entry seized 605 pounds of marijuana Thursday morning after a 1997 Dodge pickup truck entered the port from Mexico. CBP officers selected the vehicle for a secondary examination during which an x-ray scan revealed anomalies in the appearance of the vehicle. CBP officers.

	CBP officers working at the Columbus Port discovered 605 pounds of marijuana hidden in a variety of compartments in a vehicle that entered the port from Mexico on February 2, 2012.

continued their exam and spotted suspicious bundles inside the truck. CBP drug sniffing dog “Bingo” searched the vehicle and gave a positive alert for drugs. CBP officers removed 370 marijuana-filled bricks from the floor, quarter panels, back wall and bed of the truck.

CBP officers arrested the driver of the truck, 29-year-old Eliazar Parra Suarez of Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico. He was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement HSI special agents to face federal charges including importation of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

CBP officers at the Santa Teresa port of entry seized 519 pounds of marijuana Thursday afternoon after a 1991Kenworth semi-truck towing a flatbed trailer loaded with another flatbed trailer entered the port from Mexico. CBP officers selected the vehicle for a secondary examination during which an x-ray scan revealed anomalies in the appearance of the shipment. CBP drug sniffing dog “Murphy” searched the trailer and gave a positive alert for drugs. CBP officers drilled into the fifth-wheel area of the trailer and obtained a green leafy substance which tested positive for marijuana. CBP officers removed nine metal boxes from the secret compartment. The boxes contained 519 pounds of tightly compressed marijuana. No arrests were made.

A CBP officer working at the Santa Teresa port of entry process compressed marijuana removed from metal boxes that were hidden in a truck that entered the port from Mexico on February 2, 2012.

CBP officers working at area ports of entry made a total of 21 drug seizures during the week. The enforcement activity netted 3,085 pounds of marijuana in 19 busts and 14.7 pounds of cocaine in two additional seizures.

CBP officers working at area ports this week recorded 77 immigration violations. Intended immigrants made up a large group of the violators. A total of 44 were identified through thorough document exams. In these cases, individuals will use a legally issued border-crossing card (laser visa) to live or work in the U.S., which is not authorized. Violators generally lose their documents and are returned to Mexico. The balance of the immigration violations included false claims to citizenship, impostors, visa overstays, alien smugglers, counterfeit documents and people entering the country without proper inspection.

CBP officers working at area ports made 15 drug seizures during the week including 993 pounds of marijuana in 14 busts and less than one pound of heroin in one additional seizure.

CBP agriculture specialists working at area ports this week made nine seizures of prohibited food and agricultural items resulting in $2,075 in fines being assessed. Prohibited items seized included pork, bologna, pork tamales, chicharones, apples, guavas, and fresh eggs. These items are prohibited because they pose a threat of illness or disease to people, livestock or the agriculture industry.

CBP officers working at area ports also identified 15 people who were fugitives or otherwise being sought by law enforcement agencies. They also recorded three export violations, one currency seizure, and a live birds seizure. 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.

 'Coyote' Found Guilty of SmugglingSentencing Scheduled for April 2012

Tucson, Ariz. – A 26-year-old Mexican national was convicted in U.S. District Court Wednesday on three counts of smuggling aliens for private financial gain.

In November 2011, Casa Grande Border Patrol agents discovered several footprints after responding to detection technology while patrolling in the west desert. Agents tracked the footprints for several miles before encountering a group of individuals who had entered the United States illegally. All subjects were apprehended and transported to Casa Grande Station for processing. 

During processing, agents identified one of the subjects, Berlain Galvez-Lopez, aka “El Chato,” as the foot guide, or “coyote.” A records check also revealed Galvez-Lopez had two prior immigration removals. After initial processing, the Tucson Sector’s Prosecution Unit submitted the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

Galvez-Lopez’s sentencing is set for April 12. CBP is committed to ensuring that smugglers are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 

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

 CBP Officers in Douglas Nab Sex Offender

Douglas, AZ. — Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Tucson Field Office apprehended an imposter yesterday who also turned out to be a convicted and registered sex offender from Florida.

A 31-year-old Mexican national attempted to enter the United States through a pedestrian lane at the Douglas Port, but when the man presented his documents, officers suspected he was an imposter and referred him for additional questioning.

A routine records check revealed the subject’s true identity as an individual who had previously been deported following a conviction for Lewd and Lascivious Battery for which he served a two-year prison sentence in Clearwater, Fla. The subject was immediately taken into custody, processed, and is currently being detained pending prosecution.

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.