CBP Seizes Almost 3 Tons of Marijuana in Arizona Busts

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Tucson, Ariz – Three significant attempts at smuggling illicit drugs into the U.S. were stopped and nearly three tons of marijuana were kept off the streets of our cities by U.S. Customs and Border Protection o fficers at the Nogales and Lukeville ports of entry Tuesday afternoon.

The seizures began shortly after noon at the Lukeville port of entry when CBP officers screening visitors and returning U.S. residents for terrorism connections, contraband, immigration violations, prohibited agricultural items, and trade violations encountered a 58-year-old US citizen from Phoenix who was driving a 1999 Ford F350 pulling a 5th-wheel trailer in from Mexico. Officers questioned the man about the vehicle and trailer and became suspicious of his answers. The officers then performed a thorough inspection of the vehicle and trailer and discovered a compartment built into the trailer floor that contained 1,247 lbs of marijuana. The driver was immediately arrested and the marijuana, truck and trailer were seized.