Ariz. Officers, Agents Seize $11M in Drugs, $35K in Cash Over Week

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Tucson, AZ. — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Arizona Joint Field Command is reporting the seizure of more than 20,120 pounds of narcotics, with an estimated value of more than $11.5 million, and the apprehension of 2,100 illegal immigrants and 142 inadmissible immigrants at the Arizona border from Oct. 3-9.

Narcotics seizures consisted of more than 19,987 pounds of marijuana, 93 pounds of cocaine, nearly 17 pounds of methamphetamines and 24 pounds of heroin. CBP also intercepted two weapons, $34,840 in illegal outbound currency and 65 vehicles used for illicit purposes.

Border Patrol Weekly Highlight

On Oct. 4, A canine team working at the Interstate 19 checkpoint alerted to a vehicle driven by a 36-year-old U.S. citizen woman accompanied by her four minor children ages 17, 9, 6 and 4, as it approached the primary inspection. The vehicle was referred for a secondary inspection where agents discovered eight bundles of marijuana concealed in the trunk. The bundles had a combined weight of 197 pounds and an estimated value of $98,500.

Field Operations Weekly Highlight

CBP officers apprehended a 46-year-old Mexican national Oct. 8, for attempting to smuggle more than half-a-million dollars worth of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines into the U.S. through a vehicle lane at the Lukeville Port. Officers arrested the driver of a 2009 Volkswagen Bora after discovering 37 duct-taped packages of varying sizes in a non-factory compartment. The mixed narcotics had a combined weight of more than 38 pounds with an estimated value $520,790. Officers seized the drugs and vehicle. The driver was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

CBP announced the JFC-AZ in February 2011 as an organizational realignment that brings together the Tucson and Yuma Border Patrol Sectors and Air Branches, as well as the Tucson Field Office, under a unified command structure. JFC-AZ integrates CBP’s border security, commercial enforcement and trade facilitation missions to more effectively meet the unique challenges faced in Arizona. Follow us on Twitter @CBPArizona or visit us at the attached website for more information.

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.