Customs Make 15 Drug Busts at Area Ports
Arizona Free Press
← Back to
Our Top Stories
EL PASO, TEXAS -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the El Paso port of entry seized 560 pounds of marijuana in five different seizures Wednesday. It was the third day in a row that CBP officers working at area ports of entry made five marijuana seizures in a single day. On Tuesday, CBP officers seized 388 pounds of the drug in five cases while on Monday five busts generated 597 pounds of marijuana.
This is something we anticipated, said Luis Garcia, Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Paso. CBPs ongoing intensive anti-terror inspections and the onset of the traditional drug harvest season are playing a role in this increased activity however the most important element is the layers of enforcement we employ at border ports. The combination of officer expertise, high technology, and drug sniffing dogs are generating significant quantities of marijuana.ÂÂÂ
With this recent surge in drug seizure activity, CBP officers working at area ports have now confiscated approximately 122,000 pounds of marijuana during the current fiscal year, easily surpassing the 105,667-pound total nabbed during all of fiscal year 2005. The fiscal year ends September 30.
The largest seizure on Wednesday happened at approximately 10:30 a.m. when a 1992 Chevrolet Astro Van entered the Paso Del Norte port of entry from Mexico. A CBP officer working at the primary inspection identified a discrepancy in the appearance of the vehicle and directed the van to the secondary inspection area. CBP drug sniffing dog Popeye searched the vehicle and alerted to the floor. CBP officers removed 152 marijuana-filled bundles weighing 164 pounds from a floor compartment. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agents (ICE) arrested the driver of the vehicle in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. He is identified as 44-year-old Raul Correa Jauregui of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Another large seizure on Wednesday happened at approximately 1:22 p.m. when a 1994 Chevrolet Suburban entered the Paso Del Norte port of entry from Mexico. A CBP officer working at the primary inspection booth noticed that the driver was very nervous and sent the vehicle to the secondary inspection area. CBP drug sniffing dog Bo searched the vehicle and alerted to the gas tank. CBP officers also noted discrepancies in the appearance of the vehicle. CBP officers removed the fuel tank and discovered 132 marijuana-filled bundles weighing 149 pounds hidden inside. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agents (ICE) arrested the driver of the vehicle in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. She is identified as 52-year-old Maria Sera de Aguirre of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Anti-terror is the primary mission of CBP however thorough inspections at border ports of entry continue to generate impressive enforcement activity in all areas.
This is something we anticipated, said Luis Garcia, Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Paso. CBPs ongoing intensive anti-terror inspections and the onset of the traditional drug harvest season are playing a role in this increased activity however the most important element is the layers of enforcement we employ at border ports. The combination of officer expertise, high technology, and drug sniffing dogs are generating significant quantities of marijuana.ÂÂÂ
With this recent surge in drug seizure activity, CBP officers working at area ports have now confiscated approximately 122,000 pounds of marijuana during the current fiscal year, easily surpassing the 105,667-pound total nabbed during all of fiscal year 2005. The fiscal year ends September 30.
The largest seizure on Wednesday happened at approximately 10:30 a.m. when a 1992 Chevrolet Astro Van entered the Paso Del Norte port of entry from Mexico. A CBP officer working at the primary inspection identified a discrepancy in the appearance of the vehicle and directed the van to the secondary inspection area. CBP drug sniffing dog Popeye searched the vehicle and alerted to the floor. CBP officers removed 152 marijuana-filled bundles weighing 164 pounds from a floor compartment. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agents (ICE) arrested the driver of the vehicle in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. He is identified as 44-year-old Raul Correa Jauregui of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Another large seizure on Wednesday happened at approximately 1:22 p.m. when a 1994 Chevrolet Suburban entered the Paso Del Norte port of entry from Mexico. A CBP officer working at the primary inspection booth noticed that the driver was very nervous and sent the vehicle to the secondary inspection area. CBP drug sniffing dog Bo searched the vehicle and alerted to the gas tank. CBP officers also noted discrepancies in the appearance of the vehicle. CBP officers removed the fuel tank and discovered 132 marijuana-filled bundles weighing 149 pounds hidden inside. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agents (ICE) arrested the driver of the vehicle in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. She is identified as 52-year-old Maria Sera de Aguirre of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Anti-terror is the primary mission of CBP however thorough inspections at border ports of entry continue to generate impressive enforcement activity in all areas.