SAN LUIS, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Area Port of San Luis have had a highly eventful week, successfully intercepting 1,000 rounds of ammunition and more than 285 pounds of hard narcotics during a series of enforcement actions.
The first incident occurred on Friday, August 23, around 5:15 p.m., when CBP officers stopped a 22-year-old U.S. citizen driving a Nissan sedan attempting to exit the United States into Mexico at the San Luis I Port of Entry. The driver was referred to a secondary inspection area, where officers discovered 1,000 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition concealed in 50 boxes hidden throughout the vehicle.
The next day, Saturday, August 24, at approximately 5:30 a.m., officers encountered another U.S. citizen, a 24-year-old male, driving a Ford sedan. The vehicle was referred for further inspection after non-intrusive technology revealed anomalies. A CBP canine unit also alerted to the presence of narcotics. Officers subsequently extracted 95 packages concealed within the quarter panels, doors, and fuel tank of the vehicle. The packages contained approximately 96 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of black-tar heroin, and one pound of fentanyl pills.
The enforcement actions continued on Sunday, August 25, around 3:45 p.m., when a 32-year-old female U.S. citizen driving a Honda SUV was referred for secondary inspection. Again, non-intrusive technology and a canine unit revealed narcotics hidden within the fuel tank, spare tire, and firewall of the vehicle. Officers uncovered 80 packages of methamphetamine weighing over 85 pounds.
Early the next morning, Monday, August 26, at around 2:00 a.m., CBP officers stopped a 51-year-old male Mexican citizen and Legal Permanent Resident driving a Chevrolet pickup truck. Following a detailed inspection, officers discovered 40 packages of fentanyl weighing over 98 pounds concealed within the firewall, rear cab wall, and tailgate of the vehicle.
“These outbound and inbound enforcement actions highlight CBP’s commitment to safeguarding our border communities and overall border security mission,” said Chris Leon, Area Port Director for San Luis. “The exceptional work done by our CBP officers and K-9 teams has successfully thwarted these smuggling attempts by transnational criminal organizations.”
The seized ammunition, drugs, and vehicles have been confiscated, and the four drivers were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations for further action.
Under federal law, individuals may be charged by complaint, a method that allows charges to be filed for criminal activity without presuming guilt. Each person is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CBP’s Office of Field Operations plays a vital role in Homeland Security’s anti-terrorism mission at U.S. ports. CBP officers are responsible for screening all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States while also facilitating legitimate trade and travel. Their mission encompasses border-related duties such as narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.–News Desk