AZMEX UPDATE 19-12-13

AZMEX UPDATE 19 DEC 2013


CBP officers seize several loads of pot
The rear quarter panels of a smuggling vehicle were uncovered, leading CBP officers to seize the marijuana shipment.
Posted: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 10:25 am
by Trisha Maldonado

http://www.douglasdispatch.com/news/article_68156f4e-6809-11e3-9dd4-001a4bcf887a.html

Customs and Border Protection officers at the Douglas Port of Entry nearly $132,000 worth of marijuana in two separate incidents Wednesday, Dec. 11.
A 22-year-old Mexican national was referred for inspection of his Nissan sedan as he attempted to enter the United States. During the inspection, officers located 140 small packages of marijuana with a combined weight exceeding 204 pounds and worth an estimated $102,000.
Later that day, a 24-year-old Tucson man was taken into custody after officers discovered nearly 61 pounds of marijuana worth in excess of $30,000. The marijuana, in 55 packages, was discovered in the subject's Scion sedan.
On Friday, Dec. 6, a 32-year-old Agua Prieta woman was referred for inspection of her GMC SUV as she attempted to enter the United States. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in her tires, officers found metal boxes inside the tires containing a combined 169 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $84,500.
On Sunday Dec. 8, a 19-year-old Cananea man was taken into custody after officers discovered more than 104.5 pounds of marijuana, worth in excess of $52,000, in the rear quarter panels of his Dodge SUV.
All drugs and vehicles were seized. Both subjects were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations.
The identities of the people arrested were not released.

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Drug-smuggling tunnel found in backyard of Arizona home
By Associated Press
Originally published: Dec 19, 2013 - 2:56 pm

http://ktar.com/22/1686514/Drugsmuggling-tunnel-found-in-AZ-backyard-

NOGALES, Ariz. -- Federal authorities said they've shut down a drug-smuggling tunnel discovered in a backyard in southern Arizona.

Members of the Nogales Tunnel Task Force developed information that a drug-smuggling tunnel was located at a Nogales house about 1 1/2 miles north of the international border.

Authorities discovered the tunnel entrance in a shed.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said the crude, hand-dug tunnel was approximately 52 feet long and roughly 2 feet wide by 3 feet tall with some wood shoring.

The tunnel ran to an underground sewage line that ultimately crossed the international boundary.

No people or drugs were found inside the passageway. Authorities seized eight pounds of white heroin, three pounds of marijuana and more than $1,400 in cash from the house.

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