9OYS Border Watch

'A game of cat and mouse': How border security snags sneaky smugglers

CREATED Feb. 27, 2013

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  • Drug smugglers can be downright sneaky, trying to slip their stash through Arizona’s border crossings. How do law enforcement combat such creative criminals and their contraband? Video by kgun9.com

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  • A CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of marijuana packages inside a shipment of assorted piñatas. (full story)

  • Mexican national Jose Fermin Arrellano-Guzman, age 38,was arrested 05/10/13 at the Port of Mariposa Commercial Facility for attempting to smuggle more than 39 pounds of cocaine into the United States.

  • Mexican national Miguel Angel Osuna-Rojo, age 40, was arrested 05/13/13 at the Port of Nogales, in connection with a failed attempt to smuggle $512,000 in meth hidden in his rear bumper.

  • CBP officers at the Maricopa Commercial Facility in Nogales, Ariz. located methamphetamine inside of a spare automative battery.

  • Marijuana concealed inside the back seats of a smuggling vehicle were seized by CBP officers at the Douglas, Ariz. Port of Entry

  • CBP officers in Douglas, Ariz. seized marijuana that was concealed underneath the front hood of a smuggling vehicle.

  • CBP officers in Douglas, Ariz. located marijuana stashed inside the door panels of a smuggling vehicle.

  • CBP agents discovered one pound of methamphetamines concealed in underwear worn by an 18-year-old male.

  • CBP officers arrested a 23-year-old female for attempting to smuggle four pounds of heroin concealed in her bra.

  • CBP officers in Naco, Ariz. seize 124 pounds of marijuana from the side of a smuggling vehicle.

  • A box identified as lawn furniture spikes the interest of CBP officers and Border Patrol agents in Nogales, Ariz., leads to the seizure of nearly $349,000 in unreported currency

  • CBP officers and Border Patrol agents assigned to the Nogales, Ariz. Port search a box of lawn furniture, that turned out to be nearly $349,000. in unreported currency

  • Unreported currency totaling $27,670. is located within box of brownie mix, a fast food bag and a gym bag.

  • Nearly $349,000 in unreported currency is found by CBP personnel in Nogales, Ariz.

  • CBP officers in Douglas, Ariz. seize nearly 269 pounds of marijuana from inside of smuggling vehicle (behind back seats)

  • A 41-year-old Mexican woman was arrested Wednesday for attempting to smuggle nearly 2.5 pounds of heroin and nearly nine pounds of marijuana into the United States in her purse.

  • CBP officers in Lukeville, Ariz. seized unreported cash hidden inside of a smugglers' shoes.

  • Marijuana is discovered in the rear trunk of a smuggling vehicle by CBP officers in Douglas, Ariz.

  • CBP officers in Douglas, Ariz. also discover a number of packages of marijuana under the front hood of suspect vehicle

  • CBP officers in Douglas, Ariz. discover marijuana inside the spare tire of a suspect vehicle

  • Nearly 62 pounds of marijuana are located by CBP officers who checked the spare tire of a smugglng vehicle.

  • More than 545 pounds of marijuana are seized by CBP officers in Nogales, Ariz.

  • CBP officers at the Nogales, Ariz. Port seized more than $11k from a woman who was attempting to return the funds to Mexico.

  • Nearly $11k was located within the purse of a woman who CBP officers in Nogales, Ariz. who was caught trying to bring nearly $50k into Mexico.

  • CBP officers in Nogales, Arizona seize nearly $50,000 in unreported currency from a subject attempting to cross back into Mexico.

  • CBP officers assigned to the Naco, Ariz. Port of Entry seize $1.8 million dollars worth of cocaine, meth and heroin.

  • More than 150 pounds of drugs are seized by CBP officers at the Naco, Ariz. Port of Entry

  • CBP officers at the San Luis, Ariz. Port of Entry find marijuana hidden behind the truck stereo system speaker of a Ford truck referred for additional inspection, and subsequently seized 16 packages of cocaine from throughout the vehicle.

  • CBP officers at the San Luis, Ariz. Port of Entry find marijuana hidden behind the truck stereo system speaker of a Ford truck referred for additional inspection, and subsequently seized 16 packages of cocaine from throughout the vehicle.

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Nogales, seized nearly 17 pounds of methamphetamine from underneath the rear seat of smuggling vehicle.

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Nogales seized more than three tons of marijuana from inside a shipment disguised as vacuum pumps and lamp holders.

  • More than three million dollars worth of marijuana were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, from a commercial shipment attempting to cross into the United States.

  • Customs and Border Protection officers in Nogales found a shipment of bell peppers containing more than one million dollars worth of marijuana.

  • Marijuana co-mingled with a shipment of bell peppers is discovered by Customs and Border Protection officers in Nogales. (full story)

  • Customs and Border Protection officers in Nogales, seized 270 packages of marijuana from within a shipment of bell peppers. (full story)

  • Close-up of palletized bell peppers, which Customs and Border Protection officers in Nogales found co-mingled with more than a ton of marijuana. (full story)

  • Customs and Border Protection officers selected Jesus Roberto Castro-Lopez for an additional inspection of his Lincoln SUV when he attempted to enter the United States. A canine narcotics detection team was called in to inspect the vehicle, the canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the dash area. Subsequently, a CBP officer found 20 packages of methamphetamine with a combined weight of nearly 25.5 pounds.

  • A male Mexican national was arrested for attempting to smuggle $464,250 in unreported U.S. currency into Mexico through the Dennis DeConcini Port when a CBP canine alerted to money found hidden in a nightstand.

  • Customs and Border Protection canine Officers located 5.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine inside a hidden compartment and elsewhere in the front bumper of a Ford truck. (full story)

  • Customs and Border Protection canine Officers located 5.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine inside a hidden compartment and elsewhere in the front bumper of a Ford truck. (full story)

  • Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a suspected drug smuggler and seized nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana concealed in false compartments throughout a 2003 F-350 pick-up truck.

  • Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a suspected drug smuggler and seized nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana concealed in false compartments throughout a 2003 F-350 pick-up truck.

  • Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a suspected drug smuggler and seized nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana concealed in false compartments throughout a 2003 F-350 pick-up truck.

  • Cocaine hidden in a wheelchair's seat cushion. (full story)

  • 38 pounds of marijuana, worth almost $19,000, hidden inside the back seat of a Dodge Neon. (full story)

  • More than 1,800 pounds of marijuana hidden in a cucumber load that was driven across the southern Arizona border. (full story)

  • More than 1,800 pounds of marijuana hidden in a cucumber load that was driven across the southern Arizona border. (full story)

  • A woman attempted to sneak 12 duck eggs past Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis. (full story)

  • 255 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 2,000 pounds were concealed in a shipment of Persian limes. (full story)

  • 255 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 2,000 pounds were concealed in a shipment of Persian limes. (full story)

  • 66 pounds of liquid methamphetamine was found in the gas tank of a car attempting to cross the border in Douglas. (full story)

  • A CBP canine alerted to a package of methamphetamine hidden in the oil pan of a Chevrolet sedan. (full story)

  • A CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of marijuana packages inside a shipment of assorted piñatas. (full story)

  • 206 packages of marijuana weighing 810 pounds were found hidden in a tile shipment. (full story)

  • The transmission of a Ford truck containing roughly $170,000 worth of cocaine and methamphetamine. (full story)

  • Federal authorities seized nearly $2.5 million worth of marijuana hidden in a shipment of watermelons. (full story)

  • Federal authorities seized nearly $2.5 million worth of marijuana hidden in a shipment of watermelons. (full story)

  • More than six pounds of crystal methamphetamine inside the lining of an ice chest partially filled with seafood. (full story)

  • More than six pounds of crystal methamphetamine inside the lining of an ice chest partially filled with seafood. (full story)

  • More than six pounds of crystal methamphetamine inside the lining of an ice chest partially filled with seafood. (full story)

  • Six bags of methamphetamine concealed in two buckets of chicken. (full story)

  • Six bags of methamphetamine concealed in two buckets of chicken. (full story)

  • Nogales Station agents stopped three individuals attempting to smuggle 1.75 pounds of brown-tar heroin concealed under their clothes. (full story)

  • Nogales Station agents stopped three individuals attempting to smuggle 1.75 pounds of brown-tar heroin concealed under their clothes. (full story)

  • Nogales Station agents stopped three individuals attempting to smuggle 1.75 pounds of brown-tar heroin concealed under their clothes. (full story)

Reporter: Kevin Keen
 
NOGALES, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - Piñatas packed with pot? Marijuana masked as melons? Fried chicken with a side of meth?
 
Drug smugglers can be downright sneaky as they try to slip their stashes through Arizona’s border crossings. How can law enforcement combat such creative criminals and their contraband -- and keep drugs off our streets?
 
To find out, KGUN9 News took a behind-the-scenes look at the DeConcini port of entry in Nogales and at the interstate checkpoint near Tubac.
 
Here are some examples of the smuggler sneakiness Customs and Border Protection officers and Border Patrol agents squashed:
- They said a semi driver once disguised bundles of marijuana as watermelons by wrapping them in green, painting on squiggly lines and mixing in real melons.
- Another time, they found a pickup packed with piñatas and packages of pot mixed in.
- They found cartons of liquid meth inside the gas tank of a Honda Accord.
- Another time, they discovered bags of pot in greasy buckets of chicken.
 
Check out a gallery of pictures and stories of unusual drug busts at Arizona's ports.
 
“How do you catch sneaky people?” KGUN9 reporter Kevin Keen asked Juan Osorio of Customs and Border Protection.
 
“We are always looking at everything,” the supervisor answered.
 
Everything -- starting when a person pulls up from Mexico. Let's walk through the process.
 
First, cameras see you and your license plate.
 
“That’ll give the officer a little bit of an idea of who we're dealing with,” Osorio said.
 
“If he detects any anomaly in the vehicle, any nervousness in the person, the documents don't match up or something's wrong, he'll refer that vehicle and that person to secondary,” Osorio said.
 
That’s a secondary inspection, where the driver gets out, drug-sniffing K-9s go in and officers get to work. They search for everything from illegal plants, cash, weapons, medicines, smuggled humans and drugs.
 
At officers’ fingertips are high- and low-tech equipment. They use a simple mirror on a stick, for example, which gives them a better view of the underbelly of a car, where someone could’ve hidden drugs.
 
The officers also tap on pipes and the body of the car. Does it sound empty or packed with narcotics?
 
They also have a camera on a wire to look inside a gas tank.
 
“You can have all the technology in the world,” Osorio added, “but if that officer doesn't know how to use the technology or know when to employ it, then the technology is no good.”
 
They're also not afraid to pry off parts like the dashboard.
 
Keen asked Osorio, “How far will you go to take a part a car?” “If we have high suspicion that the vehicle's loaded, we can take the engine a part,” he answered.
 
Sound extreme? Last fall, officers at the Nogales port found cocaine and meth stuffed inside a transmission. Another time, officers found pot sewn inside the back seat of a Dodge Neon.
 
All the searching goes well beyond the port. At Border Patrol checkpoints -- like the one on Interstate 19 outside Tubac -- agents are a second line of defense with tools of their own.
 
Agent Brent Cagen demonstrated using an x-ray truck at the checkpoint.
 
“What happens is the truck will actually detect anomalies or hidden compartments inside the vehicle,” he explained.
 
“Often times, you could find contraband inside the tires,” the Border Patrol agent added. “You could find it in the door panels.”
 
“What we're looking at is, as we become more effective in the technology that we use, the personnel that we deploy and the infrastructure that we have, we see these criminal organizations becoming far more desperate,” Cagen said.
 
All of this is how officers and agents catch contraband and criminals. And, as smugglers' strategies shift, so do theirs.
 
“It's always changing,” Osorio said. “It's a game of cat and mouse."