Contributed Article
NACO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of Naco disrupted a methamphetamine smuggling attempt on Tuesday, February 18.
At approximately 10:19 a.m., a 46-year-old Mexican citizen male driving a Chevrolet pickup truck applied for entry into the United States. The CBP Officer manning the vehicle lane referred the man to a secondary inspection for further examination.
In the secondary inspection area, CBP officers used non-intrusive technology to screen the truck, revealing anomalies within the vehicle. Additionally, a CBP canine inspection was conducted, alerting the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.
An extensive physical search of the vehicle revealed a compartment in the truck’s rear bed. The hidden compartment was packed with 26 packages. CBP Officers extracted the packages, which contained approximately 159 pounds of methamphetamine.
The seized narcotics had a combined estimated street value of $167,067.
We remain steadfast in our mission to stop contraband from entering the country”, stated Martin Gomez, Area Port Director for Douglas/Naco. “CBP Officers are the frontline here at the border, utilizing specialized skills to assess threats and deception attempts by the traveling public while facilitating legitimate travel.”
The drugs and vehicle were seized, and the driver was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations.
Federal law allows officers to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows filing 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 legitimate trade and travel flow. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.
