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

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.