News and Events
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Event Date: 5/7/2009
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Check our Dowload page for a media release from the Maricopa County Attorneys office.
Phoenix Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison
APR 08 -- PHOENIX - Jesus Inez Garibaldi-Salazar/ 39/ of Culiacan/ Sinaloa/ Mexico/ was sentenced on April 6th by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 87 months in federal prison. Garibaldi-Salazar pleaded guilty on December 4/ 2008/ to Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
In May 2008/ Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration in Phoenix began working with counterparts from Colorado to identify a drug supplier in Phoenix. Special Agents arrested Garibaldi-Salazar and three other individuals after they negotiated the sale of methamphetamine. Agents stopped the individuals after a meeting where a sample was shown and discovered three additional pounds of methamphetamine in a hidden compartment in the car they were driving.
During the hearing/ Judge Campbell noted that this was a very serious crime involving large amounts of a very dangerous drug that could have impacted the lives of thousands of individuals. Co-defendant Manuel Zazueta-Felix was sentenced to 150 months prison on March 2/ 2009 and admitted that he had obtained the methamphetamine in a home invasion at the time of his arrest. Co-defendant Francisco Javier Gonzalez-Beltran was sentenced to 41 months prison on February 17/ 2009 after the judge determined he played a lesser role in the offense. The remaining defendant's sentencing hearing is pending.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mesa Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Brian G. Larson/ Assistant U.S. Attorney/ District of Arizona/ Phoenix.
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Event Date: 6/19/2008
Counter Narcotics Alliance Seizure
Agents from the Counter Narcotics Alliance seized over 2200 pounds of Marijuana at a Tucson machine shop. A tractor trailer was seen delivering a load of dirt to the shop in the early morning hours. The dirt was determined to be a cover load for over a ton of Marijuana. Three people were arrested in connection with the Marijuana and the investigation continues.
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Event Date: 6/11/2008
CBP Tractor Trailer Investigation
Tractor-Trailer Containing Marijuana Seized at Arizona Checkpoint
(Tuesday/ June 10/ 2008)
contacts for this news release
Tucson/ Ariz. - Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents/ aided by a Border Patrol K-9/ seized a tractor-trailer and arrested a suspected drug smuggler at a Sonoita/ Ariz. checkpoint.
A 46-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from El Salvador approached the inspection area today of an Arizona checkpoint in a 1995 Freightliner XL tractor pulling a trailer. While in the inspection area/ a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the possibility of humans or other contraband hidden within the trailer. The tractor and trailer were referred to the secondary inspection area for further investigation.
While inspecting the contents of the trailer/ Border Patrol agents discovered several bundles of marijuana covered in laundry soap and concealed among cardboard bails. The bundles weighed approximately 1/780 pounds with an estimated value of $712/000.
The driver/ marijuana/ and tractor-trailer were turned over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Border Patrol K-9s are one of the resources utilized by the Border Patrol at traffic checkpoints to detect humans/ narcotics and other contraband. The K-9’s exceptional ability to smell humans and contraband in hidden compartments increases the enforcement efficiency of the agents working at the Tucson Sector checkpoints while creating obstacles for smuggling organizations trying to move their illicit cargo.
To date/ Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents have seized more than 608/000 pounds of marijuana since October 1/ 2007.
From Customs and Border Protection
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Event Date: 4/21/2008
CBP Drug Seizure
1.35 Million in Methamphetamine and Cocaine Intercepted at Ariz. Port of Entry
(Tuesday/ April 15/ 2008)
San Luis/ Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Luis/ Ariz. port of entry stopped two significant narcotics-smuggling attempts involving methamphetamine and cocaine last week/ arresting two people and seizing 71 pounds of illicit drugs.
"The interception of both of these narcotic seizures has prevented some very dangerous drugs from ever reaching our streets and affecting so many families/" said Port Director William K. Brooks/ "This simply goes to show how important the officers' abilities and responsibilities are and why they take their jobs so seriously."
The first narcotics seizure occurred in the early morning hours on April 10/ when a CBP officer screening incoming vehicles noticed the anxious demeanor the driver of a 1997 Ford Expedition and became suspicious of his answers during the primary inspection. The officer referred the vehicle and driver to vehicle secondary inspection where a narcotic detector dog alerted to the presence of contraband. The officers discovered a non-factory compartment in the cargo area where both cocaine and methamphetamine were hidden.
The second narcotic seizure occurred in the early morning hours on April 12/ when a narcotics detector dog screening vehicles waiting in line alerted to a 1999 Ford Windstar van. The vehicle was referred for inspection/ where CBP officers discovered a non-factory compartment concealing packages of methamphetamine.
The April 10th incident resulted in the seizure of 29 packages of methamphetamine and seven packages of cocaine/ with a combined weight of more than 54 pounds. The April 12th incident resulted in the seizure of 14 packages of methamphetamine/ which weighed approximately 27 pounds.
The drivers in each incident/ a 19-year-old U.S. citizen and a 41-year old Lawful Permanent Resident were arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation and processing.
The combined estimated street value of the methamphetamine and cocaine is approximately $1.35 million.
The last interception of a combination of drugs occurred in November 2007/ when CBP officers seized 12 pounds of heroin and 26 pounds of cocaine resulting in the arrest of a 23-year-old U.S. citizen.
From CBP
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Event Date: 4/4/2008
Arizona Border Seizures
Three Trains/ Three Seizures/ $1 Million in Marijuana At Nogales Port of Entry
(Thursday/ April 03/ 2008)
Nogales/ AZ – In less than a week/ Customs and Border Protection officers inspecting trains coming from Mexico through the Nogales port of entry have netted more than a million dollars worth of marijuana. Officers intercepted almost 655 pounds of marijuana hidden inside or on rail cars in three separate incidents in four days.
On Saturday/ March 29/ 2008/ at approximately 7:30 p.m. CBP officers were inspecting train cars coming into the country from Mexico/ searching for people/ narcotics/ and other contraband/ when they noticed discrepancies on a rail car filled with grain. The officers requested the assistance of a CBP narcotic detection dog that promptly alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the railcar. Officers continued to inspect the car and discovered a compartment built into the structure. Upon gaining access to the compartment/ officers discovered a total of 88 packages of marijuana with a total weight close to 517 pounds.
The second seizure happened on Tuesday/ April 1/ at around 3:15 p.m./ when officers inspecting a train noticed suspicious activity near one of the rail cars. When the officers examined the car/ although no subjects were found/ two bales of marijuana weighing approximately 48 pounds were seized.
The third seizure also occurred on April 1 at approximately 5 p.m. CBP officers screening another incoming train with the rail Vehicle And Container Inspection System noticed anomalies on a cement rail car as the train was making entry into the United States. Once again/ a CBP narcotic detection dog alerted to the railcar/ prompting a thorough search of the car. Officers discovered five bails of marijuana/ totaling more than 90 pounds/ hidden under the cement. The estimated street value for the illicit drugs is more than $1 million.
"Because of the pressure we’re putting on the smuggling organizations/ we’ve seen an increase in the number of attempts at using the train as a method for smuggling narcotics/" said Port Director James Tong/ "but our officers continue to demonstrate their ability to pick up on small discrepancies and use the variety of tools available to stop these attempts."
Since Oct. 1/ 2007/ CBP officers at the Nogales port of entry have stopped 15 attempts to smuggle narcotics using the train. These seizures have netted nearly 3/000 pounds of marijuana/ with an estimated value of $4.4 million. During the previous year/ officers intercepted only three smuggling attempts of drugs on trains/ seizing almost 367 pounds.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management/ control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
Event Date: 4/2/2008
Counter Narcotics Alliance Marijuana Seizure
Agents from the Counter Narcotics Alliance seized 2500 pounds of marijuana during an investigation this week. The marijuana was concealed in a tractor trailer using fresh produce as a cover. The produce was donated to the Community Food Bank and three men were arrested.
Event Date: 4/2/2008
CBP Cocaine Seizure
$1 Million in Cocaine Seized at San Luis Port of Entry
(Tuesday/ April 01/ 2008)
San Luis/ A.Z. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the San Luis port of entry seized more than $1 million in cocaine last Thursday/ arresting one person in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.
“This interception demonstrates the dedication of the officers to our mission/” said Port Director William K. Brooks/ “and demonstrates their ability to detect contraband and smugglers based on their observations and using all available tools at their disposal”.
The narcotics seizure happened at about 9:30 am on March 27/ when a CBP officer screening incoming vehicles became suspicious of the driver of a 2003 Ford Windstar and sent her in for inspection. Based on her answers to routine questions and discrepancies with the vehicle/ officers searched the minivan thoroughly and discovered a compartment built into the firewall area of the vehicle. When officers opened the compartment/ they discovered packages of illicit drugs hidden inside.
The officers removed a total of 24 packages of cocaine/ weighing more than 63 pounds. The drugs were seized along with the vehicle/ and the driver/ a 21-year-old US citizen/ was arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.
Estimated street value of the cocaine is more than $1 million.
Since the beginning of the current fiscal year/ which began Oct. 1/ 2007/ CBP officers at the San Luis port of entry have stopped nine cocaine-smuggling attempts/ seizing more almost 336 pounds of the illicit drug/ worth an estimated $5.6 million.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management/ control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
From US Customs and Border Protection
Event Date: 3/31/2008
Buckeye Marijuana Seizure
Buckeye police find 300 lbs. of pot in speeder's car
by Elias C. Arnold - Mar. 31/ 2008 11:35 AM
The Arizona Republic
Buckeye police discovered 300 pounds of marijuana when an officer stopped a 22-year-old man on suspicion of speeding/ police said.
Larnell D. Randolph/ of Buckeye/ faces eight felony and misdemeanor counts after police reportedly stopped him Friday on suspicion of speeding near Jackrabbit Trail and Yuma Road.
Police said an officer discovered a 20-pound bag of marijuana and a handgun in the back seat/ prompting a search that turned up the remaining 280 pounds of marijuana.
Randolph faces several counts/ including felony counts of possessing marijuana for sale and possessing a gun during a drug offense.
From the Arizona Republic