see also: in June 2006 News Releases:   CBP Border Patrol Seize Over 1.1 Million Pounds of Narcotics Through the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year   Full Enforcement for Wood Packaging Material Import Regulations to Begin July 5   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at El Paso Port of Entry Nab Man Wanted on Homicide Warrant   CBP Border Patrol Agents Seize Narcotics in Boat   CBP Border Patrol Nets Over $600,000 Thousand During Cocaine Seizure   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Discover Seven Pounds of Heroin Hidden Baseball Bats   Border Patrol Agents Rescue Nine People From Tractor Trailer ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers on the web:   Khat

contacts for this news release

Tucson, Ariz – Since June 1st, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at the Arizona ports of entry have already seized more than 2,200 pounds of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and khat in eight attempts to smuggle illicit drugs into the country. CBP officers have also apprehended nine fugitives, stopped five alien-smuggling attempts, arrested two criminal aliens, and seized more than $10,000 in undeclared currency. CBP Agriculture Specialists have stopped 13 attempts to smuggle prohibited agricultural items, collected $1,550 in penalties, and prevented the possible infestation of U.S. crops at least three times after discovering produce imports with different pests on them.

The largest and most significant seizure occurred on Friday, June 2nd when CBP officers working at the commercial facility in Nogales arrested the 48-year-old driver of a tractor-trailer containing almost 1,636 pounds of marijuana hidden among pallets of grapes. The officers noticed discrepancies while using the truck X-ray system and, when they unloaded the trailer, discovered 125 bundles of the narcotic. When it was discovered that the driver was a participant in the Free And Secure Trade (FAST) program, his membership was revoked and he was arrested.

The FAST (Free And Secure Trade) program is designed to give registered travelers bringing imports into the country expedited processing, but also carries great responsibility for the traveler. Because of the trust and confidence placed in the program participant, U.S. Customs and Border Protection makes every effort to see violators prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Also on Friday, CBP Officers at the Nogales port of entry arrested a 47-year-old man and his 40-year-old female passenger (both from Obregon, Sonora) in connection with a failed attempt to smuggle more than 70 pounds of cocaine into the country hidden in a 2006 Chevy Tornado. On Saturday, officers arrested a 36-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora in connection with a failed attempt to smuggle almost 30 pounds of methamphetamines into the country hidden in a 1992 Chevy pickup.

On Thursday, June 1st, CBP Officers at the San Luis port of entry arrested a 39-year-old man from San Luis, Arizona in connection with a failed attempt to smuggle more than 106 pounds of marijuana into the U.S. hidden in a 1990 Ford F-250. Officers also arrested a 20-year-old man from San Luis, Sonora in connection with an attempt to smuggle almost 57 pounds of marijuana into the country hidden in a 1996 Nissan Quest.

On Friday, CBP Officers at the Lukeville port of entry arrested a 24-year-old man and his 26-year-old male passenger (both from Caborca, Sonora) after discovering almost 72 pounds of marijuana hidden in the gas tank of their vehicle. On Saturday, officers at the port arrested the 42-year-old female driver and her 52-year-old male passenger (both from Phoenix, Arizona) when they discovered more than 300 pounds of marijuana hidden in various places in an RV she was driving.

On June 1st, CBP officers working at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport intercepted a package being shipped from France that contained almost 34 pounds of khat, a plant that is highly addictive with effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. ( Khat )

In total, more than 2,271 pounds of narcotics, with an estimated street value in excess of $10 million, were intercepted and seized. Since the beginning of the fiscal year (October 1st, 2005), CBP officers at the ports of entry in Arizona have stopped more than 480 attempts to smuggle drugs into the country, seizing more than 42,816 pounds of illicit drugs with an estimated street value of almost $259 million.

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.