Douglas, Ariz. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers stopped a child smuggling attempt when they apprehended a Tempe, Ariz. woman for trying to smuggle a five-year-old girl into the United States.
On May 2 at about 2:30 p.m. CBP officers were screening pedestrians as they were making entry into the United States. The CBP officers became suspicious of a 26-year-old Tempe woman who was being accompanied by a five-year-old girl. Further investigation revealed that the woman was attempting to smuggle the five-year-old into the United States for monetary gain.
CBP Officers took the woman into custody pending appearance before a federal magistrate. The five-year-old girl was re-united with and released to the custody of her mother.
The CBP Office of Field Operations is responsible for securing United States borders at the ports of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers' primary mission is anti-terrorism. They screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, and enforcing trade laws.
While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.