CBP Officers Seize Marijuana at Lukeville Port of Entry

(Tuesday, August 24, 2010)

Lukeville, Ariz. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Lukeville
port of entry seized more than 109 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a mini-van with an
estimated street value of $93,000.

On Aug. 23, at approximately 6:30 p.m. while CBP officers

were processing travelers entering the U.S., a 25-year-old
woman and her 25-year old female passenger, both U. S.
citizens from Evansville, Ind., applied for entry while driving
a 1999 gold Ford Windstar mini-van. The women were
referred to secondary inspection where officers discovered
several anomalies during a non-intrusive inspection. They
subsequently found 101 packages of marijuana concealed in
various locations inside the van.

“Despite regular publicity on our abilities to locate illegal

contraband, some people still try to smuggle contraband into
the United States,” said Acting Port Director, Efrain Solis.
“Regardless of the creative ways criminal organization try to circumvent our detection methods,
we will remain thorough and vigilant.”

The two subjects were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and drugs seized.

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.

While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the
inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive
numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.

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.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of
Homeland Security charged with management, control and protection of our nation's borders at
and between official ports of entry. CBP is cha