100 pounds of cocaine found in vehicle's roof

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Dennis DeConcini Port in Nogales prevented a cocaine smuggling attempt by a Mexican man accompanied by his family on May 28.

The seizure occurred when a 40-year-old Mexican man, his 36-year-old Mexican wife and their two children attempted to enter the United States through a Dennis DeConcini Port vehicle lane and were referred for a secondary inspection. Subsequently, CBP officers observed discrepancies in the roof of the vehicle followed by a narcotics detection canine alert. Further investigation led to the discovery of 52 packages of cocaine concealed in a non-factory compartment in the vehicle’s roof.

The narcotics weighed more than 123 pounds with an estimated value of $1,119,300.

The man was taken into custody and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation. The wife and children were allowed to withdraw their application for admission.   

“Preventing this amount of dangerous narcotics from entering our communities is very significant,” said Acting Nogales Area Port Director Craig Hope, “I am very proud of our CBP officers’ keen sense of observation and their vigilance and dedication to the protection of our nation."

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, the Department of Homeland Security has engaged in an unprecedented effort to bring focus and intensity to Southwest border security, coupled with a reinvigorated, smart and effective approach to enforcing immigration laws in the interior of our country.

A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt.  An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt

The Office of Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports of entry.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers’ primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, and enforcing trade laws.