see also: in May 2007 News Releases:   Agriculture Inspection, User Fee Requirements Begin June 1 for Commercial Trucks, Railroad Cars Entering U.S. From Canada   Customs and Border Protection starts 2007 Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act Cycle   New Mexico Border Patrol Seizes Nearly $1.5 Million in Marijuana   Suspected Child Molester, FBI Top 10 Fugitive Turned Over to Buffalo Customs and Border Protection   Jayson P. Ahern Announced as Next CBP Deputy Commissioner   CBP Border Patrol Continues Recruiting With Help of Car #28   Electronic Manifest Filing Now Mandatory in Michigan and New York ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Tucson, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Arizona ports of entry stopped nine attempts at smuggling illicit drugs into the United States, arresting 10 people in connection with the attempts this past weekend. CBP seized almost 147 pounds of cocaine in five incidents and 393 pounds of marijuana in another four incidents.

Estimated street value of the narcotics is $3.1 million.

The seizures began early Friday morning when CBP officers at the San Luis port of entry arrested a 26-year-old U.S. citizen living in Mexico when they discovered 71 pounds of marijuana hidden inside the Chevy pickup he was driving.

At around 1:15 p.m., CBP officers in Lukeville arrested a 27-year-old Mexican citizen after discovering 71 pounds of cocaine hidden in the 2006 Chrysler Cirrus the man was driving.

Almost simultaneously, officers at the Douglas port of entry arrested a 41-year-old Mexican citizen after finding 232 pounds of marijuana hidden in a Buick Park Avenue the man was driving.

The next day, May 19, the seizures continued with an incident at the Mariposa port of entry in Nogales shortly before 10 a.m. Officers arrested a 24-year-old Mexican citizen after discovering almost 47 pounds of cocaine hidden inside a 1994 Plymouth Voyager the man was driving.

Shortly before 1 p.m. the same day, CBP officers at the Douglas port of entry arrested a 20-year-old Mexican citizen after finding 84 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a Chevy Malibu he was driving.

At around 2:30 that afternoon, CBP officers at the Dennis DeConcini port of entry in Nogales arrested a 19-year-old Mexican citizen and an 18-year-old US citizen after finding 24 pounds of cocaine hidden inside a 1998 Chevy van the two men were in.

At around 4:15 p.m. CBP officers screening pedestrians entering the US at the DeConcini port of entry in Nogales arrested a 16-year-old Mexican citizen after finding more than two pounds of cocaine strapped to the boy’s body. Within minutes, they arrested a 15-year-old boy from Mexico after finding more than two pounds of cocaine strapped to his body.

In addition to the narcotics, CBP officers apprehended nine fugitives and recovered a stolen backhoe being exported to Mexico. CBP agriculture specialists stopped seven attempts at smuggling prohibited agricultural items into the United States.

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.