AZMEX UPDATE 16-3-19

AZMEX UPDATE 16 MAR 2019


U.S. officials: 30,000 fentanyl pills seized on Arizona Indian reservation

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
MARCH 16, 2019 AT 9:40 AM

http://ktar.com/story/2488437/u-s-officials-30000-fentanyl-pills-seized-on-arizona-indian-reservation/

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — U.S. officials say they've seized 30,000 fentanyl pills that were being trafficked by a Mexican drug cartel
on an Arizona Indian reservation that sits on the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Interior Department Law Enforcement Task Force on Opioids said Friday the seizure was part of a recent operation
that swept up $700,000 worth of illegal and controlled substances in four border states.

The joint operation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Drug Enforcement
began as an investigation into large amounts of fentanyl pills being transported from Mexico through points of entry
on the Tohono O'odham Nation south of Tucson.

END




Hard drug smugglers intercepted by CBP officers at Port of San Luis
March 15, 2019 at 3:38 PM MST - Updated March 15 at 3:38 PM

http://www.kold.com/2019/03/15/hard-drug-smugglers-intercepted-by-cbp-officers-port-san-luis/

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD News 13) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a San Luis, Sonora, Mexico,
man and Phoenix woman Wednesday
for separate alleged attempts to smuggle 58 pounds of methamphetamine and heroin through the Port of San Luis.

Officers referred a 39-year-old Mexican national for additional inspection of his Chevy sedan as he attempted to enter the U.S. early Wednesday morning.
After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to a scent it was trained to detect coming from within the front bumper,
a search led to the discovery of multiple packages of narcotics.
The drugs were identified as nearly 55 pounds of meth, worth an estimated value of nearly $164,000
as well as almost three pounds of heroin, worth more than $74,000.

Later that morning, officers at the pedestrian lanes referred a 27-year-old Phoenix woman for further inspection as she attempted to enter the U.S.
After a CBP canine alerted to the presence of drugs, officers searched and located a single package of meth within her undergarments.
The package was determined to be just over a pound of meth, worth more than $3,000.
Officers seized the drugs and the vehicle, while both subjects were arrested
and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations.

Federal law allows officers to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity
without inferring guilt.
An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation's ports.
CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel.

Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction,
enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

END