Tucson, Ariz. - Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Tucson Field Office, a component of the CBP Joint Field Command - Arizona, seized nearly 25 pounds of cocaine, three pounds of heroin, and prevented an aggravated felon from entering the United States in separate incidents on September 20.
The cocaine seizure occurred after a 29-year-old Mexican man attempted to enter the United States through a vehicle lane at the Dennis DeConcini Port in Nogales and was referred for a secondary inspection of his Chevrolet truck. A narcotics detection canine then alerted to the inside of the truck, prompting officers to conduct a more intensive inspection. During the inspection, officers located ten packages of cocaine weighing nearly 25 pounds and worth an estimated $227,500. The subject was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations.
Earlier, a 27-year-old Phoenix woman attempted to enter the United States through a pedestrian lane at the San Luis Port and was referred for secondary inspection. Following a narcotics detection canine alert, officers conducted a routine pat down and discovered two packages of heroin weighing three pounds worth nearly $41,000. The subject was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations.
Also on September 20, a 20-year-old Phoenix man attempting to enter the United States through a DeConcini Port vehicle lane was referred for a secondary inspection. When officers ran a routine records check on the driver, an outstanding arrest warrant originating from Pima County for drug trafficking was revealed. The subject was arrested and turned over to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.
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 announced the JFC-AZ in February, as an organizational realignment that brings together the U.S. Border Patrol, Air and Marine, and Field Operations under a unified command structure. The JFC-AZ integrates CBP's border security, commercial enforcement, and trade facilitation missions to more effectively meet the unique challenges faced in Arizona.
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 regulations, in additional to protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.