see also: in July 2007 News Releases:   CBP Air and Marine Acquires Helicopters for Border Security Mission   CBP Officers At El Paso Port Nab 50 Pounds Of Cocaine; Two Juveniles Taken Into Custody   CBP Border Patrol Agent Dies In the Line of Duty   Hong Kong to Scan U.S.-Bound Goods for Radiation as Part of Secure Freight Initiative   Border Patrol Assists in Third Canal Rescue in a Week   CBP Officers Apprehend Fugitive Wanted For Murder, Rape, Burglary   Operation Streamline Nets 1,200-Plus Prosecutions in Arizona ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Nogales, Ariz – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Nogales and Douglas ports of entry stopped five narcotics smuggling attempts yesterday, including more than 3,500 pounds of marijuana discovered during an early afternoon inspection of a commercial truck at the Nogales port of entry.

Just after 1:00 pm yesterday, CBP officers inspecting commercial vehicles and imports coming into the United States from Mexico through the Nogales port of entry chose a 1988 Peterbilt tractor and trailer filled with manufactured goods for an inspection, looking for contraband or other violations. The vehicle was sent into the inspection area to be screened using the VACIS (Vehicle And Container Inspection System), which allows CBP officers to quickly scan an image of the vehicle and contents. While the vehicle was waiting in line for the inspection, a CBP drug dog, “Robbie,” alerted his handler to narcotics odor coming from the trailer. The VACIS scan also showed anomalies within the trailer’s contents, so the trailer was opened and the contents were removed. During the inspection of the vehicle’s contents, CBP Officers discovered 139 bales of marijuana hidden inside sealed boxes on pallets made to look like legitimate items. The driver was immediately arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents for further investigation and prosecution. The vehicle and marijuana were seized.

Estimated street value of the narcotics is $5.7 million.

Earlier in the day, CBP officers at the Dennis DeConcini port of entry in Nogales stopped a cocaine-smuggling attempt when they targeted a 1993 Toyota Corolla driven by a 27-year-old woman from Nogales, Sonora. During an inspection of the vehicle, officers found a sophisticated electronic compartment built into the dashboard containing 11 packages of cocaine. The driver, a US citizen, was arrested and the 30 pounds of cocaine and vehicle were seized. Estimated street value of the cocaine is $500,000.

CBP officers at the Douglas port of entry also had a busy day, arresting four people in connection with three marijuana smuggling attempts.

The first smuggling attempt happened at around 6:20 in the morning. CBP officers stopped a 1994 Mitsubishi sedan, driven by a 45-year-old woman from Tucson and decided to inspect the vehicle. During the inspection, they discovered 229 pounds of marijuana hidden inside the trunk of the car. While being questioned by CBP officers she admitted to using someone else’s driver’s license, so CBP officers ran her fingerprints through IAFIS (Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System) and discovered that she was wanted by the US Marshal’s Service on charges of probation violation for alien smuggling. She was arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents.

The second smuggling attempt happened around 8:15 in the morning. CBP officers stopped a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 driven by a 23-year-old man from Chihuahua and decided to inspect it. During the inspection, the officers discovered 179 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a compartment built into the bed of the pickup. The driver and his passenger, a 27-year-old woman from Agua Prieta, both Mexican citizens, were arrested.

The third smuggling attempt happened just before noon. CBP officers stopped a 1992 Chevy Silverado truck driven by a 20-year-old woman from Agua Prieta for an inspection. During the vehicle inspection, “Bunny,” a drug dog, alerted officers to narcotics odor leading them to discover 46 pounds of marijuana hidden inside the back seat of the vehicle. The driver, a Mexican citizen, was arrested.

Estimated street value of the narcotics seized at the Douglas port of entry is $727,000.

Since the beginning of the fiscal year, CBP officers at the Nogales port of entry have stopped 169 marijuana-smuggling attempts, seizing almost 35,000 pounds of the illicit drug. CBP officers at the Douglas port of entry have stopped 161 marijuana smuggling attempts, seizing more than 15,000 pounds of the drug.

The Office of Field Operations is responsible for securing our 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.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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.