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  4. CBP Officers Seize $367,000 Worth of Cocaine

CBP Officers Seize $367,000 Worth of Cocaine

Release Date
Mon, 01/30/2012

SAN LUIS, ARIZ.—Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Tucson Field Office seized more than 40 pounds of cocaine at the San Luis Port Saturday.

A 33-year-old male Mexican national, travelling with his 36-year-old wife and three minor children, was referred for a secondary inspection of his Toyota sedan. During the inspection, officers noticed apparent tampering near the gas tank and placed the vehicle on a lift for further inspection. When the tank was removed, officers found 17 packages of cocaine inside an aftermarket compartment. The drugs and vehicle were processed for seizure. The man was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. His wife and children were released without further incident.

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'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 laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021