May 17, 2009  Douglas, Arizona
CBP officers seized over 700 pounds of marijuana in a weekend

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Douglas port of entry stopped four narcotics smuggling attempts in a weekend, totaling over 700 pounds of marijuana.

The first seizure happened on May 15, 2009 when a 21-year old male and United States citizen driving a 2000 GMC pick-up applied for entry into the United States through the vehicle primary lanes. A CBP 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 gas tank of pick-up and upon removal of gas tank 4 metal boxes were found. The four metal boxes contained marijuana totaling over 118 pounds. On Saturday May 16, 2009, CBP officer's also seized nearly 183 pounds of marijuana and arrested a 25-year-old Mexican national male after finding 22 packages of the drugs hidden in a false bed compartment of a 2006 Ford F-250 pick-up.

On that same date CBP officer's screening incoming vehicles became suspicious of the driver of a 1996 GMC van. A CBP officer screening travelers waiting to enter the U.S. selected the driver and vehicle for inspection due to discrepancies to the vehicle. Once in secondary the vehicle was searched with a non-intrusive imaging device which revealed anomalies in the fuel tank. Upon removal of the gas tank 131 pounds of marijuana were discovered. The driver, a 22-year-old United States citizen, was arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation. On May 17, 2009 a CBP officer screening incoming vehicles became suspicious of a 19-year-old female United States citizen and driver of a 2000 Ford F-150 pick-up. Based on her answers to routine questions and officer observations, CBP officers, assisted by a canine unit, searched the vehicle thoroughly and discovered that the pick-up had a false floor loaded with marijuana. Officer's removed 154 packages of the drug weighing more than 267 pounds.

Source: US Customs and Border Protection