see also: in December 2005 Press Releases:   New SENTRI/Dedicated Commuter Lane to Open at Calexico/Mexicali Port of Entry Thursday   CBP Border Patrol Agents Arrest Homicide Suspect   CBP Border Patrol Agent Saves Two Mexican Nationals From Drowning   U.S. Joins Revised World Customs Organization Convention   Another Child Smuggling Arrest at Hidalgo Port   CBP Border Patrol Seizes Over a Ton of Marijuana ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Nogales, AZ - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at the Mariposa Commercial Facility in Nogales found more than cucumbers yesterday afternoon when they discovered more than 2180 pounds of marijuana in the trailer of a 1984 Peterbilt truck bringing produce into the United States.

CBP officers didn’t recognize the trailer when it arrived at the port at around 4:15 PM and decided to refer it for further inspection. Officers then used a non-invasive inspection system to screen the trailer, looking for anomalies. When the results of the scan looked odd, they climbed in the back and discovered 104 bales of marijuana hidden among the cucumbers. The marijuana, truck, and trailer were seized by Customs and Border Protection officers. The driver, a 28-year-old man from Guasave, Sinaloa was arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The value of the marijuana is estimated at $1,637,245.

CBP officers at the Nogales port of entry also had two smaller seizures of marijuana yesterday morning. They stopped an 18-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora from smuggling in 35 pounds of marijuana hidden in the spare tire of an Isuzu Trooper and a 26-year-old woman from Nogales, Sonora from smuggling in more than 50 pounds of marijuana hidden in a compartment built into the trunk of a Mercury Grand Marquis.

CBP officers at the Douglas port of entry stopped a 16-year-old boy from Agua Prieta from smuggling in almost 56 pounds of marijuana hidden in the gas tank of a 1990 Ford Ranger pickup after a narcotics detection dog alerted to the vehicle.

CBP officers at the Lukeville port of entry stopped a 31-year-old woman from Caborca, Sonora from smuggling in almost 27 pounds of marijuana hidden in the gas tank of a 1994 Chevrolet Suburban.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations is responsible for operations 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, such as stemming the tide of illegal drugs and illegal aliens, and protecting our food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

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.