see also: in July 2008:   CBP Discovers 2.7 Tons of Marijuana on Cargo Box Truck   Holiday Travel Reminder for Northwest Border Crossers   Current, Former CBP Employees Assist in Arrest of Purse Snatchers   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Failure to Register as Sex Offender   California SENTRI Participant in Hot Water, CBP Finds Dope in Vehicle   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault on Minor   CBP Revokes Trusted Traveler Privileges After Finding Prohibited Items During Inspection ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

San Luis, Ariz. – During the past seven days, CBP officers have proven their ability to detect and interdict drug-smuggling attempts, stopping six individuals attempting to smuggle a total of more than 440 pounds of marijuana into the country.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are responsible for protecting America’s borders, which includes preventing narcotics from reaching U.S., streets.

“Once again, our officers have demonstrated their fine abilities of intercepting drugs,” said Assistant Port Director Robert Schroeder. “Preventing threats from entering the country is what they do every day.”

The string of interceptions began in the early morning hours on July 16, when officers seized 135 pounds of marijuana hidden throughout a 1997 Dodge pickup. Officers removed 54 packages of the drug from compartments built into the bed of the truck. The driver, a 35-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested.

The next interception happened in the afternoon of July 18, when officers seized 52 pounds of marijuana hidden in a 1999 Chevy Malibu. After a CBP narcotics detector dog alerted to narcotics odor coming from the car, officers discovered 28 packages hidden in the dashboard. The driver, a 21-year-old man from California, was arrested.

The third interception happened in the afternoon on July 19, when officers seized almost 90 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a 1994 Pontiac Bonneville. After another CBP narcotics detector dog alerted to narcotics odor, officers searched the vehicle and discovered 38 packages of marijuana hidden inside different areas of the car. The driver, a 41-year-old woman from Mexico, was arrested.

The interceptions continued on July 20, with three incidents that day.

Shortly after 5 a.m, CBP officers seized 35 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a 2000 Cadillac Catera. A narcotics detector dog alerted to narcotics odor resulting in officers searching the vehicle to discovere 20 packages of marijuana hidden inside the vehicle’s gas tank. The driver, a 22-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested.

The next incident took place at just before 1 p.m., when officers seized more than 73 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a 1994 Honda Accord. Officers removed 30 packages of marijuana from a speaker box in the trunk. The driver, a 16-year-old girl from Arizona, was arrested.

The last seizure happened at 4 p.m., when officers seized 58 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a Chevy pickup. After a narcotics detector dog alerted to the odor of narcotics, officers searched the truck and found 22 packages of marijuana hidden inside the gas tank. The driver, a 24-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested.

A total of 443 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated street value of $719,000, was seized.

In addition to the narcotics seizures, CBP officers also apprehended four fugitives with warrants for their arrest, stopped five attempts at entering the United States fraudulently, and arrested one person in possession of personal use narcotics.

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.