$257,000 in Narcotics Seized at San Luis Port of Entry

San Luis, Ariz. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are responsible for protecting Americas borders, which includes preventing narcotics from reaching the streets of the U.S., and during the past two days, CBP officers have proven their ability to detect and interdict drug-smuggling attempts. Officers stopped three attempts at smuggling marijuana into the country, seizing more than 73 pounds of the illicit drug and arresting the violators. These interceptions are a direct result of the officers attention to detail and reflect their tireless pursuit of criminals who smuggle contraband into the United States, said acting CBP Port Director Efrain Solis. The first narcotics seizure on November 12 happened at about 7 p.m., when a CBP officer screening incoming vehicles became suspicious of the driver of a 1998 Ford Taurus and sent him in for inspection. Based on his answers to routine questions and discrepancies with the vehicle, CBP officers, assisted by a canine unit, searched the vehicle thoroughly and discovered that the gas tank was loaded with marijuana. Officers removed 32 packages of the drug weighing more than 42 pounds, arrested a 28-year-old male driver from Mexico, and seized the vehicle. The second narcotics seizure happened on November 13 at about 8:15 a.m., when a CBP officer screening incoming vehicles became suspicious of the driver of a 1998 Chevrolet 1500 pickup and referred her to secondary inspection. Based on the officers observations at primary inspection with the vehicle and her answers to routine questions, CBP officers, assisted by a canine unit, searched the vehicle thoroughly and discovered that the gas tank was loaded with marijuana. Officers removed 54 packages of the drug weighing more than 86 pounds, arrested a 22-year-old female driver from Mexico, and seized the vehicle. The third narcotics seizure was on November 13 at about 7:35 p.m., when a CBP officer screening incoming vehicles became suspicious of the driver of a 1994 Chrysler Eagle Summit and sent him in for inspection. Based on his answers to routine questions and officer observations, CBP officers, assisted by a canine unit, searched the vehicle thoroughly and discovered that the quarter panels were loaded with marijuana. Officers removed 25 packages of the drug weighing more than 30 pounds, arrested an 18-year-old U.S. citizen male driver, and seized the vehicle.