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  4. Douglas CBP Officers Seize $159K in Marijuana

Douglas CBP Officers Seize $159K in Marijuana

Release Date
Wed, 04/22/2015

TUCSON, Ariz. – Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two Mexican women during separate weekend attempts to smuggle marijuana through the Port of Douglas.

Photo of car with marijuana hidden under the hood

CBP officers assigned to the Port of Douglas seized nearly 300 pounds of marijuana from within a smuggling vehicle.

Officers arrested Thania Lizeth Gamez-Ballesteros, 26, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, on April 17 after a CBP narcotics-detection canine alert led to the discovery of more than 298 pounds total, throughout her Mazda SUV. The drugs are worth almost $149,000.

A CBP narcotics-detection canine also alerted officers to a Ford sedan on April 19, driven by Damaris Duarte-Leyva, 32, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. When officers inspected the vehicle, they found 21 packages of marijuana concealed in the dashboard – more than 19 pounds – worth nearly $9,600.

Officers seized all drugs and vehicles, and referred both subjects to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

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.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021