see also: in January 2007 News Releases:   Membership of Trade/Customs Advisory Committee Announced   CBP Border Patrol Launches Massive Search to Preserve Life   CBP Officers Make 22 Drug Busts at Calexico Ports During Busy Week   3,010 Pounds of Marijuana Seized at Nogales Port of Entry   CBP Border Patrol Makes a Record Drug Bust   Registration Underway for Third CBP Conference on ACE   CBP Officers Nab Mother/Daughter Cocaine Smugglers; Juveniles With Marijuana Loads Also Nabbed This Week ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Tucson, Ariz – Once again, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at ports of entry in Arizona have demonstrated the scope of their responsibilities and the impact their operations have on the American public. This weekend’s operations resulted in several significant arrests and seizures.

On Friday morning, CBP Officers at the Dennis DeConcini port of entry in Nogales encountered 35-year-old Miguel Santana (a legal permanent resident from Mexico), when he attempted to enter the country. During routine screening, a CBP officer discovered a 2003 warrant for his arrest out of Yakima County, Washington on charges of rape of a child, first and second degree. Officers immediately took him into custody to verify the warrant and extradition. The initial information about extradition was unclear, so the officers worked closely with authorities in Washington to ensure that Santana would be extradited to face prosecution on the charges. Once confirmation was received, he was turned over to Santa Cruz County Sheriff deputies to continue the extradition process.

On Friday, CBP Officers at the Douglas port of entry arrested a 30-year-old man from Phoenix, a Mexican citizen living legally in the United States, after finding 588 pounds of marijuana hidden inside compartments built into the gas tank and floor of a 1999 Ford F-250 he was driving.

On Monday, officers at the same port of entry arrested a 23-year-old man from Flagstaff, a Mexican citizen living legally in the United States, after finding almost 324 pounds of marijuana hidden in the gas tank and floor of a 1999 Chevy 1500 pickup he was driving.

On Monday, CBP officers at the Lukeville port of entry arrested a 54-year-old man from Yuma, a US citizen, after finding almost 470 pounds of marijuana hidden inside the floor of a 1989 Southwind Fleet motor home.

On Friday, CBP officers working at the Morley pedestrian entrance in Nogales arrested a 34-year-old woman from Nogales, MX after finding almost three pounds of methamphetamine and more than seven pounds of cocaine hidden inside her bags and containers of infant formula.

On Saturday, CBP officers at the Deconcini port of entry in Nogales arrested a 23-year-old man from Imuris, MX after finding almost 29 pounds of cocaine hidden a compartment in a Ford Ranger he was driving.

On Sunday, CBP officers at the same port of entry arrested a 46-year-old woman from Nogales, MX after finding almost 38 pounds of cocaine hidden inside compartments in a 1994 Ford Taurus she was driving.

In addition, CBP officers at all the ports of entry in Arizona seized an additional 171 pounds of marijuana in eight failed attempts at smuggling the illicit drugs into the country. They also arrested an additional 11 fugitives, recovered one stolen vehicle, and stopped 17 attempts by people trying to sneak into the country using fictitious or altered documents or claiming to be a US citizen.

CBP Agriculture Specialists stopped 46 smuggling attempts involving prohibited agricultural items, including pork, passion fruit, guavas, sweet potatoes, mangoes, oranges, avocados, mamey fruit, plants, chicken, sweet limes, coconut, cherimoya, plums, potatoes, camote, cuttings from lemon trees, and begonia cuttings. The Agriculture Specialists also collected $10,550 in penalties associated with the failed smuggling attempts.

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, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for 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.