Andrade CBP Officers Intercept Narcotics Worth Nearly $400,000

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Andrade, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Andrade, Calif. port of entry seized nearly $400,000 in cocaine and methamphetamine Tuesday and arrested one person in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.

The incident occurred at about 7 a.m. when a 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager was referred to the secondary inspection area for an intensive examination after the primary officer noticed signs of nervousness displayed by the driver.

A human/narcotic detector dog alerted officers to the dashboard of the vehicle where they discovered 15 wrapped packages of cocaine co-mingled with four packages of methamphetamine. The total weight of the seized narcotics was 46 pounds, including about 40 pounds of cocaine worth about $320,000 and almost six pounds of methamphetamine valued at over $61,000.

The male driver, a 40-year old male Sonora resident, was placed under arrest and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for further disposition. The narcotics and vehicle were seized by CBP.

CBP Thwarts Run of Drug Smuggling Attempts at Calif. Port

Monday, August 11, 2008

Calexico, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the downtown port of entry intercepted six narcotic smuggling attempts in three days last week, officials announced today. Seized drugs had a street value of more than $2 million.

CBP officers discovered the narcotics in six vehicles after they entered the U.S. from Mexicali, Mexico. Seven individuals, six Mexican citizens and one U.S. citizen, were arrested by CBP officers and turned over to special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for transportation to the county jail to face arraignment.

The most recent interception occurred at about 6 p.m. on Sunday when a white 2000 Ford F-250 was referred to the secondary inspection area for an intensive examination after the primary officer noticed anomalies in the vehicle’s rear area.

The utilization of a human/narcotic detector dog alerted officers to the undercarriage area of the vehicle. Officers discovered 18 wrapped packages of methamphetamine concealed inside the rear differential. The total weight of the narcotic was 13 pounds with a street value of nearly $150,000.

The driver, a 33-year old male Mexicali resident, was arrested by CBP officers and turned over to ICE agents for further disposition. The narcotics and vehicle were seized by CBP.

CBP Officers Thwart 6 Marijuana Smuggling Efforts in a Day

Friday, August 08, 2008

San Diego – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers had their hands full on Wednesday, August 6, after they seized a total of 720 pounds of marijuana concealed in six vehicles that entered the United States from Mexico at the Otay Mesa, Calif. passenger port of entry.

CBP officers became suspicious after a 60-year-old male U.S. citizen driver arrived at the port at 4:15 a.m. exhibiting signs of nervousness. After a human/narcotics detection dog alerted to his California-plated Dodge Ram and officers obtained unusual readings of the vehicle roof with a density measuring tool, the driver was referred to the secondary inspection lot. CBP officers subsequently removed 54 packages of marijuana that were hidden in the vehicle’s roof. The packages had a combined weight of 245 lbs and were valued at over $110,000.

At approximately 12:15 p.m., a 29-year-old Mexican male applied for admission at the port driving a Mitsubishi pickup. CBP officers noticed an anomaly within the bench seating on the driver’s side. Upon further inspection, CBP officers noticed a compartment underneath the driver’s seat. A total of 42 packages of marijuana weighing about 109 pounds and valued at $49,000 were found in the compartment.

About two hours later, a 2005 Ibiza driven by a 20-year old Mexican male was referred to the secondary inspection lot where CBP officers removed about 96 pounds of marijuana valued at $43,200 from the vehicle quarter panels.

CBP officers noticed the tampered back bumper of a 1994 Honda Civic when it entered the port around 4 p.m. driven by a 21-year old Mexican male. Once in the secondary inspection lot, officers discovered about 63 pounds of marijuana valued at over $28,000.

At 4:35 p.m. a roving CBP officer approached a black GMC Sierra entering the port driven by a 20-year old Mexican male. The officer noticed a non-factory compartment within the floor of the vehicle so it was taken to the secondary inspection lot where 86 pounds of marijuana valued at almost $39,000 were found hidden within the compartment.

Later that evening, a 21-year old female U.S. citizen was detained after CBP officers found 121 pounds of marijuana valued at almost $55,000 hidden in the back rest and seat of a California-plated 1996 Dodge Intrepid after it entered the port around 9:30 p.m. Officers became suspicious after a human/narcotics detector dog of a roving canine team had alerted to the vehicle as it waited in line in the pre-primary area of the port.

CBP Officer in Arizona Thwart 4 Cocaine Smuggling Attempts in a Day

Friday, August 08, 2008

Tucson, Ariz. — In four different events on Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Arizona entries of Douglas and Nogales stopped $2.3 million in cocaine from being smuggled into the United States, arresting four people in connection with the attempts.

The largest seizure happened Monday morning at around 6:30 a.m., when officers at the Douglas port of entry became suspicious of the driver of a 2006 Honda CRV who was attempting to cross into the United States. During an inspection of the vehicle, officers discovered 16 packages of cocaine, weighing more than 39 pounds, hidden inside the vehicle. The driver, a 42-year-old woman from Mexico, was arrested and the cocaine and vehicle were seized.

The next seizure happened a few hours later, at 11:30 a.m., at the Dennis DeConcini port of entry in Nogales, when officers became suspicious of the driver of a 1992 Ford F-150 attempting to enter the United States. During an inspection of the vehicle, officers discovered 10 packages of cocaine, weighing more than 12 pounds, hidden inside the vehicle. The driver, a 31-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested and the cocaine and vehicle were seized.

The next large seizure happened 1:15 p.m. at the DeConcini entry when officers became suspicious of the driver of a Volkswagen Jetta attempting to cross into the United States. During an inspection of the vehicle, officers discovered 13 packages of cocaine, weighing more than 32 pounds, hidden inside the vehicle. The driver, a 28-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested and the cocaine and vehicle were seized.

A short time later at 2 p.m. officers screening pedestrians entering the country through the Morley entrance in Nogales became suspicious of a 14-year-old boy from Mexico. During an inspection of the boy, officers discovered two packages of cocaine, weighing almost five pounds, strapped to his body. The boy was arrested and the cocaine was seized.

All four people were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The total weight of the cocaine seized in the four incidents is more than 88 pounds, with an estimated street value of almost $2.3 million.

Doll House Has Too Much Grass

CBP Officers in N.M. Find Marijuana Hidden in Children’s Furniture
Friday, August 08, 2008

Santa Teresa, N.M. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Santa Teresa port of entry seized 436 pounds of marijuana late Wednesday night. The drugs were concealed in children’s furniture. Two New Mexico residents were taken into custody in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.

The seizure was made at approximately 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night after a 1999 Ford F-150 pick up truck entered the port from Mexico. CBP officers selected the vehicle for a secondary inspection. During the exam, CBP drug sniffing dog “Moscoe” alerted to furniture in the bed of the pick up truck.

CBP officers then performed an X-ray scan of the vehicle and furniture and noticed anomalies in the appearance of the furniture. CBP officers dismantled the new furniture and removed a total of 23 marijuana-filled bundles from the shipment. The marijuana weighed 436 pounds.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents arrested

two people in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. They include the driver, 43-year-old Darcy Glaser, and the passenger, 19-year-old Nicholas Vasquez. Both suspects are U.S. citizens who reside in Albuquerque, N.M.

The Santa Teresa seizure was the largest of 27 drug busts made by CBP officers working at ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas and New Mexico during this past week (August 1 – August 7). CBP officers seized a total of 3,504 pounds of marijuana in those drug busts. In addition to the drug seizures, area CBP officers this week also recorded dozens of immigration violations, agriculture busts and other violations.

Cocaine Worth Nearly $1.5 Million Dollars Seized at Calexico Port

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Calexico, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico, Calif. downtown port of entry seized nearly half a million dollars in cocaine on Monday and arrested a 22-year-old female Mexican citizen in connection with the failed smuggled attempt.

The enforcement action occurred

at about 9:30 a.m. when a female driving a silver 2008 BMW 1201 was referred to the secondary inspection area for examination after a human/narcotic detector dog alerted to the vehicle during a pre-primary enforcement operation.

At the secondary inspection area, an intensive examination of the vehicle revealed special compartments within the rocker panels that resulted in the discovery of 22 wrapped packages of cocaine with a total weight of 60 pounds.

The driver, a Mexicali resident, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The narcotics, worth $480,000, and the vehicle were seized by CBP.

CBP Officers in Calif. Seize $3 Million Worth of Marijuana in 2 Incidents

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

San Diego – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nearly 1,000 pounds of marijuana in two commercial vehicles/trailers at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility in Calif., Friday, August 1, in a three-hour time frame.

CBP officers became suspicious when a 32-year-old Mexican citizen driving a tractor without a trailer arrived at the Otay Mesa port of entry at 3:30 p.m. Friday. An intensive examination by CBP officers revealed anomalies in both saddle tanks. Upon further inspection by a human/narcotics detection dog that had a positive alert, officers removed 10 packages of a green leafy substance that field tested positive for marijuana. The packages weighed 350 pounds and were valued at more than $1 million.

At approximately 6:30 p.m. Friday, a 25-year-old Mexican citizen applied for entry at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility. CBP officers noticed an anomaly within the front wall of the empty tractor trailer. A human/narcotics detection dog screened the vehicle, and CBP officers probed the wall of the trailer and punctured a package. A green leafy substance was extracted and tested positive for marijuana. A total of 42 packages were removed weighing 621 lbs and valued at $1.8 million.

In both cases, the commercial vehicles and the narcotics, with a total combined weight of 971 pounds, were seized and the Mexican citizens were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and transported to San Diego Metropolitan Correctional Center for arraignment.

Travelers' Laptops May Be Detained At Border

No Suspicion Required Under DHS Policies

By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 1, 2008; Page A01

Federal agents may take a traveler's laptop or other electronic device to an off-site location for an unspecified period of time without any suspicion of wrongdoing, as part of border search policies the Department of Homeland Security recently disclosed.

Also, officials may share copies of the laptop's contents with other agencies and private entities for language translation, data decryption or other reasons, according to the policies, dated July 16 and issued by two DHS agencies, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"The policies . . . are truly alarming," said Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.), who is probing the government's border search practices. He said he intends to introduce legislation soon that would require reasonable suspicion for border searches, as well as prohibit profiling on race, religion or national origin.

DHS officials said that the newly disclosed policies -- which apply to anyone entering the country, including U.S. citizens -- are reasonable and necessary to prevent terrorism. Officials said such procedures have long been in place but were disclosed last month because of public interest in the matter.

CBP Officers in Calif. Discover 5 Tons of Marijuana on Cargo Truck

Friday, July 25, 2008

Calexico, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico east port of entry cargo facility seized more than five tons of marijuana found in a tractor-trailer rig that entered the port at about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, officials announced today.

CBP officers found 469 wrapped packages of the narcotic weighing 10,224 pounds and valued at $4.6 million hidden in numerous boxes manifested as tools, instruments and parts, officials said.

CBP officers ordered the tractor-trailer rig to the port’s gamma-ray facility for an intensive examination after the truck entered the U.S. from Mexico. The intensive examination revealed anomalies in the shipment so it was referred to the dock for off-loading of the merchandise.

CBP officers discovered a green leafy substance concealed within boxes that field tested positive for marijuana.

The driver, a 22-year-old Mexican male, was arrested by special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and subsequently transported to the Imperial County Jail to await arraignment. The tractor-trailer and narcotics were seized by CBP.

CBP Officers at San Ysidro Port Discover Three Migrant Smuggling Attempts

Thursday, July 24, 2008

San Ysidro, Calif. - Three drivers and a passenger were arrested and charged with alien smuggling early Wednesday morning after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro port of entry discovered undocumented Mexican citizens concealed within compartments on their vehicles, officials announced today.

The three cross-border drivers, two U.S. citizens and a Mexican national, and a U.S. citizen passenger in one car face prosecution in federal court for the alleged smuggling attempts. The five undocumented aliens ultimately will be returned to Mexico.

The first attempt occurred about 12:20 a.m. when CBP officers inspecting a white 1993 Chevrolet Lumina bearing California plates discovered a compartment in the undercarriage of the car. Once it was opened, officers found a 23-year-old Mexican male and his 18-year-old sister hidden inside the compartment.

The driver, a 44-year-old female U.S. citizen, and her passenger, a 47-year-old male U.S. citizen, both Oceanside residents, were arrested by CBP officers. The vehicle was seized by CBP.

A half hour later, officers discovered another hidden undercarriage compartment on a 1990 Pontiac Transport that concealed two Mexican women, ages 27 and 33. Officers inspected the vehicle because the driver appeared very nervous.

The female driver, a U.S. citizen who resides in Chula Vista, was arrested and the vehicle was seized.

The third smuggling attempt was discovered at about 3:15 a.m. when CBP officers discovered a 49-year-old Mexican female hidden inside the dashboard of a 1993 Mercury Villager.

At Tijuana checkpoint, border crossers wait . . . and wait . . . and wait

DAN KEANE

Published: 07.23.2008

TIJUANA, Mexico - It looks like any Southern California traffic jam - except you can buy a cappuccino and a 4-foot statue of Jesus from your car while watching dogs sniff vehicles for drugs.

This is the U.S.-Mexico border's most congested crossing, where local residents say already epic lines into San Diego have grown even longer since January, when the U.S. began phasing out a long-standing practice of allowing people they believed to be American citizens to enter by simply stating their citizenship.

Border guards now require most crossers to present a U.S. passport or other proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate — though they are still permitted to exercise their own judgment in order to keep lines moving. As always, Mexican citizens and other foreign nationals must show valid immigration documents to enter.

Still longer waits may be coming for people trying to get to jobs, homes, in-laws and weekend hangouts are scattered across both halves of the border's largest metropolis.

As of next June, all U.S. citizens will have to present a passport or security-enhanced card, much like an electronic toll tag, to cross - or risk being waved out of line for a rigorous security check.

More than half the 21 million cars crossing from Tijuana each year wait 90 minutes or more, with a fourth stuck for more than two hours, according to survey data collected before the January rule change and published this month by Tijuana's College of the Northern Frontier.

CBP officers make pot busts at San Luis port of entry

July 22, 2008 - 4:08PM

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Officers at the San Luis, Ariz., port of entry seized more than 440 pounds of marijuana and arrested six people suspected of trying to smuggle the pot into the country in recent days.

The total value of the pot was estimated at $719,000, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The names of those arrested were not immediately available.

The first of the drug interceptions was July 16 when CBP officers seized 135 pounds of marijuana hidden in compartments built into various areas of a 1997 Dodge pickup. The driver, a 35-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested, CBP said.

The next seizure of pot took place Friday afternoon when officers found 52 pounds of marijuana hidden in the dashboard of a 1999 Chevrolet Malibu, CBP said. The pot was discovered after a narcotics detector dog alerted officers to the odor of drugs, CBP said.

The driver, a 21-year-old man from California, was arrested.

Nearly 90 pounds of pot were found Saturday afternoon inside a 1994 Pontiac Bonneville after another CBP dog alerted officers to the presence of narcotics. A 41-year-old woman from Mexico who was driving the vehicle was arrested, CBP said.

Three more drug busts occurred at the port Sunday morning and in the afternoon.

In the first, at about 5 a.m., CBP officers seized 35 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a 2000 Cadillac Catera after a dog alerted officers to the odor of narcotics. The driver, a 22-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested.

Shortly before 1 p.m., officers seized more than 73 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a speaker box in the trunk 1994 Honda Accord. 16-year-old Arizona girl who was driving the car was arrested, CBP said.

At about 4 p.m. Sunday, officers seized 58 pounds of marijuana hidden in the gas tank of a Chevrolet pickup. The driver, a 24-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested.

CBP Officers Deliver Baby at El Paso Border Crossing

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

El Paso, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers deliver a baby at the Bridge of the Americas international border crossing early Tuesday morning.

On July 1, at about 3 a.m. a 23-year-old female El Paso legal permanent resident arrived at the port of entry. While waiting for admissibility status, the female advised CBP officers that she was experiencing child labor. The CBP officers took immediate action and contacted EMS. While waiting for EMS, CBP officers comforted the woman by placing her on the ground on top of a blanket. CBP officers assisted in the delivery of the infant. The baby boy was placed next to her mother until EMS arrived.

“This is not a first, CBP officers have delivered numerous babies in the past,” said Chief CBP Officer Rick Lopez.

EMS arrived at the border crossing and took over treatment. The mother and newly born infant were transported to a local hospital in El Paso.

CBP Officers Nab ‘Persons of Interest’ Connected to Quadruple Murder Case

Monday, June 30, 2008

Douglas, Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Douglas, Ariz. port of entry played a pivotal role in finding two individuals wanted by the Los Angeles County sheriff in connection with a homicide involving multiple victims, including two children.

At around 4:45 on Saturday afternoon, CBP officers screening people wanting to enter the United States through the Douglas were approached by Mexican authorities, who were escorting two men to the port of entry. The officers’ suspicions were raised by the fact that the men were being escorted by Mexican immigration authorities and, since their mission is to discover and stop threats from entering the United States, they began working to determine the identity and admissibility of the two men.

During the inspection, suspicions were raised further when the two men refused to speak English or Spanish, prompting officers to find a CBP officer who spoke Korean to assist with questioning. As the officers identified the men through use of immigration and other databases, and through questioning, they discovered information leading them to believe the men were wanted as persons of interest in connection with the murder of several people, including two children, in Los Angeles County.

The men were turned over to the Douglas Police Department for further investigation and processing.

Cocaine Valued at $500,000 Seized at California Port of Entry

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Andrade, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Andrade port of entry seized approximately half a million dollars in cocaine on Monday and arrested one person in connection with the failed smuggled attempt.

The enforcement action occurred at about 8:45 p.m., when a 19-year-old Mexican male driving a 1999 Toyota Camry was referred to the secondary inspection area for examination by a CBP officer.

While in secondary, a drug sniffing dog alerted officers to the gas tank area of the vehicle. Further inspection of the area revealed a silicone substance and new screws on the sending unit leading to the gas tank. A search of the gas tank resulted in the discovery of 23 packages of cocaine weighing 55.79 pounds and with a street value of approximately $500,000.

The driver, a Bullhead City, Ariz. resident, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and transported to the Imperial County Jail to await arraignment.

CBP Discovers Seven Tons of Marijuana Concealed in Shipment of Plastic Articles

Monday, June 16, 2008

Calexico, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico East port of entry cargo facility seized more than seven tons of marijuana found commingled with boxes of plastic articles in a tractor-trailer that entered the port at about 7:40 p.m. on Friday, June 13, officials announced today.

CBP officers found 735 wrapped packages of the narcotic weighing 14,519 pounds and valued at almost $6 million hidden with numerous boxes of plastic articles inside the trailer, officials said.

CBP officers ordered the tractor-trailer to the port’s gamma-ray facility for an intensive examination which revealed anomalies in the shipment. The tractor-trailer was then referred to the dock for off-loading of the merchandise.

Prior to the off-loading, a narcotics detector dog was also utilized to screen the shipment. The canine immediately alerted to the shipment and, upon closer examination, CBP officers discovered a green leafy substance concealed within boxes that field tested positive for marijuana.

The driver, a 32-year-old Mexican male and resident of Mexicali, was arrested by special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and subsequently transported to the Imperial County Jail to await arraignment. The tractor-trailer and narcotics were seized by CBP.

CBP Officers Foil Three Major Narcotic Seizures at California Port

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Calexico, Calif. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico downtown port of entry intercepted three significant narcotic smuggling attempts during one morning last week, preventing 110 pounds of cocaine, 135 pounds of marijuana, three pounds of liquid hash, and six pounds of marijuana seeds from entering the United States.

The most recent interception occurred at about 10:10 a.m. on Thursday, when a 31-year-old Mexican citizen driving a 1997 white Toyota 4-Runner was referred to the secondary inspection area for an intensive examination.

An inspection of the vehicle and utilization of a canine alerted officers to the ceiling area of the vehicle. Closer inspection of the area revealed a metal plate that concealed 22 packages of cocaine wrapped in aluminum foil, brown postal tape and cellophane weighing a total of 58 pounds.

The male driver, a Tecate, Mexico resident, was placed under arrest and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for further disposition.

The second smuggling attempt occurred earlier that day at about 8:35 a.m. when a 27-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a 2000 white Toyota Tacoma was referred by officers to the secondary area for an inspection.

During the secondary inspection, utilization of a canine and a tool to measure density alerted officers to the vehicle’s spare tire. Further examination revealed 20 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed within the tire with a total weight of 52 pounds.

The driver, a San Diego resident, was arrested by ICE agents and transported to the Imperial County jail to await arraignment for the alleged importation of narcotics.

The third smuggling attempt occurred at about 6 a.m. when a 31-year-old Mexican male and his female passenger were referred to the secondary inspection area for an examination.

While in the vehicle secondary inspection area, CBP officers utilizing a canine were alerted to different areas of the vehicle. Further inspection of the vehicle revealed packages concealed in the front bumper, front side door, quarter panels, rear passenger seats, and rear cargo door.

A total of 60 cellophane-wrapped packages were seized. One package tested positive for hash, four smaller packages held marijuana seeds, and 55 packages contained marijuana. The total weight of the contraband was 144 pounds.

Customs officers seize 800 pounds of pot at San Luis port

FROM STAFF REPORTS

June 9, 2008 - 6:46PM

Customs and Border Protection officers seized 872 pounds of marijuana in recent days as they stopped four separate attempts to smuggle pot through the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz.

The marijuana had a total street value of $1.4 million, CBP said in a news release.

In what CBP is calling the most creative of the four smuggling attempts, 187 packages of marijuana were encased in cement picnic table tops and benches that a 44-year-old U.S. citizen was bringing across in a vehicle on Saturday.

Officers became suspicious of the unidentified man and referred the vehicle to a secondary inspection area, where use of an X-ray system enabled agents to locate the pot weighing a total of 534 pounds, CBP said in the release. The man was arrested.

In a separate incident Thursday, officers arrested a 32-year-old unidentified man
from Mexico and seized more than 105 pounds of marijuana that had been hidden throughout the vehicle he drove up to the port, CBP said.

The pot, contained in 61 packages, was seized after a narcotics detector dog alerted officers to the presence of drugs.

Two other seizures came May 31, CBP said.

Feds Seize Cocaine Jesus Statue on Texas Border

Thursday , May 29, 2008

Fox News

Federal agents have arrested a man on charges of drug trafficking after finding a statue of Jesus made of cocaine at a Texas border crossing.

Bernardino Garcia-Cordova, 61, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of cocaine importation, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy after an investigation by Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

According to the criminal report filed by U.S. officials Tuesday, Garcia-Cordova offered a woman $80 to transport two religious statues across the border and deliver them to him at a bus station in Laredo, Texas.

A drug-sniffing dog alerted Border Patrol agents of the presence of drugs in a box that contained two religious figurines. One of those statues, a Jesus figure weighing 3 kilograms, was found to be made of cocaine.

"This seizure goes to show what extreme measures people will go through to smuggle drugs," said Janice Ayala, deputy special agent-in-charge of ICE's investigations office.

Holiday travelers: Feds will ask for citizenship proof at crossings

The Associated Press

Published: 05.19.2008

Travelers heading to Puerto Peñasco, Son., for Memorial Day weekend should be prepared with the documentation they'll need to come back.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say being prepared before arriving at the Lukeville border crossing will help ease the waits caused by holiday traffic.

The Lukeville crossing is a gateway to Puerto Peñasco, a popular weekend destination for Arizonans that is commonly referred to as Rocky Point.

A law requiring travelers ages 19 or older to show both a government-issued photo ID and proof of citizenship when coming back into the country went into effect Jan. 31.

Those 18 or younger will also need proof of citizenship.