see also: in February 2004:   CBP Border Patrol Agents Arrest Wanted Fugitives on Northern Border   CBP Delays Implementation of the Term "Shipper"   CBP Border Patrol Seizes Over 900 Pounds of Cocaine Valued at over $31 Million   CBP Border Patrol Seizes Over 5,000 Pounds of Marijuana   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces a Joint Agency Black History Month Event with Actor Tim Reid   CBP Border Patrol Agents Thwart Human Trafficking Operation   CBP Border Patrol Agents Seize Over $1.5 Million in Cocaine ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Washington, DC - This past week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers and Border Patrol agents seized over 25,700 pounds of marijuana, 36 pounds of heroin, 1,705 pounds of cocaine and over 1,670 pounds of KHAT in 11 separate incidents. The narcotics were interdicted from the remote areas of the Californian desert to the coast of Puerto Rico.

"These large drug seizures illustrate the continued threat posed by smugglers attempting to bring illegal drugs into our country," said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, Robert C. Bonner. "Due to the continued vigilance of CBP Officers at the ports-of-entry and Border Patrol agents between the official ports, over $77 million worth of illegal drugs were removed before they could hit the streets of our cities."

On January 23, 2004, Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents assigned to the Alamogordo, New Mexico Station detected and seized 196 pounds of marijuana while performing traffic checkpoint operations. During a more comprehensive search of the vehicle, agents discovered a motorized hidden compartment containing a loaded handgun and a TASER stun gun. Agents arrested the driver, a United States citizen from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

On January 24, 2004, Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents assigned to the Calexico, California Station asked and received permission to search an enclosed all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trailer for narcotics. Upon opening the trailer, two individuals in a sand rail (dune buggy) attempted to abscond by backing out of the trailer and nearly striking the agents. Agents secured the scene, and discovered over 1,129 pounds of marijuana.

That same day, Customs and Border Protection Customs Patrol Officers (CPO) assigned to the Sells, Arizona Station discovered a vehicle, concealed by tarps and mesquite branches, with the assistance of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement helicopter that had spotted tire tracks leading to the area. Arriving on scene, CPOs found a stolen 2002 Dodge pick-up truck loaded with 1,352 pounds of marijuana.

Later that day, Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo North station in Laredo, Texas arrested a naturalized citizen who was driving a tractor-trailer containing 4,936 pounds of marijuana secreted in legitimate cargo. The arrest and seizure was a direct result of a positive alert for the presence of narcotics from a K-9 Detection Team during Traffic Checkpoint Operations.

Additionally, on January 24, 2004, Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Miami International Airport encountered an American Airlines passenger originating from Colombia, attempting to smuggle 36 pounds of heroin into the United States. Customs and Border Protection Officers arrested the individual and seized the heroin with an approximate value of $1,152,000.

On January 28, 2004, Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents assigned to the Falfurrias, Texas Station seized 2,481 pounds of marijuana while performing traffic check operations. A Border Patrol Canine Detection Team alerted to the trailer and found the contraband secreted among boxes of clothing. CBP Border Patrol remanded the driver, who had been Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence into the United States, the vehicle, and the contraband into the custody of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On January 30, 2004, Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents assigned to the Casa Grande, Arizona Station responded to sensor activations near the village of Kohatk, Arizona. Agents discovered tire tracks of three vehicles illegally entering the United States. Agents located the vehicles abandoned and discovered 6,571 pounds of marijuana in the vehicles. The contraband was valued at $5,213,840.

That same day, Customs and Border Protection Officers in San Juan, Puerto Rico inspected a vessel arriving from Venezuela. CBP Officers examined a container and found 14 duffel bags containing 1,705 pounds of cocaine valued at $55,560,000. The vessel had port calls in Rio Haina, Dominican Republic and from Puerto Cabello, Venezuela before final destination to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Later that day, Customs and Border Protection Officers at JFK Airport reported the seizure of three shipments of KHAT, which arrived on an air cargo airplane. An individual with a fraudulent Customs stamp attempted to pick up two of the three shipments (one with 629 pounds and one with 194 pounds). Another individual, also with a fraudulent Customs stamp, attempted to pick up the third shipment, which contained 849 pounds of the contraband. The three seizures weighed a total of 1,672 pounds.

Later that day, Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents assigned to the Casa Grande, Arizona Station seized 82 bundles of marijuana weighing 1,698 pounds with an estimated valued of $1,358,480.00 in an abandoned building near the Post Office in Topawa, Arizona.

On January 31, 2004, Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility seized 7,339 pounds of marijuana concealed in a false wall of an inbound tractor-trailer. The contraband was detected after Gamma Scanner examination revealed anomalies in the front wall of the trailer. A Canine alerted to the trailer and subsequent examination resulted in the discovery of the marijuana. The contraband was valued at $5,871,200.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for managing and securing our nation's borders.