see also: in November 2008:   Registered Sex Offender Intercepted by CBP at Pacific Highway Entry   CBP Officers Seize 145 Pounds of Ecstasy at Vermont Entry   CBP Officers in Boston Seize Undeclared $19,300   CBP Advises Travelers of Temporary Construction at Otay Mesa Border Crossing   CBP Officers in Niagara Falls Arrest Man Wanted in California   Customs and Border Protection Officers in New York Arrest Imposter ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Douglas, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Douglas port of entry foiled two narcotics smuggling attempts on Thanksgiving day, totaling 450 pounds of marijuana and worth more than $729,000, officials announced today.

“Smugglers try to blend in with legitimate traffic,” said Port Director Michael Humphries, “and it’s often a combination of our officers’ suspicions and our canine partners that result in stopping what appears to be an otherwise normal border crossing, but in reality is an attempt to sneak dangerous drugs into the country.”

The first seizure happened yesterday morning just after 8:30 a.m., when a 21-year-old male Mexican national driving a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta applied for entry into the United States through the vehicle primary lanes. A Customs and Border Protection officer screening travelers waiting to enter the U.S. selected the driver and vehicle for inspection due to discrepancies to the vehicle.

The vehicle was escorted to the secondary lot where the officers continued the intensive inspection along with the assistance of a narcotic detector dog. The dog alerted the officers to the rear area of the vehicle where 62 packages of marijuana were discovered totaling over 400 pounds.

At around 3:30 p.m., CBP officers also seized almost 50 pounds of marijuana and arrested a 19-year-old male and United States citizen after finding five packages of the drug hidden inside the spare tire of a 1997 Ford Taurus.

The vehicles and marijuana were seized and case was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.

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.