CBP U.S. Border Patrol Seizes $1.8 Million in Marijuana

CBP U.S. Border Patrol Seizes $1.8 Million in Marijuana

Tucson, Ariz. – In three separate incidents over the weekend, Tucson sector Border Patrol agents seized more than 2,250 pounds of marijuana, valued at more than $1.8 million.

Border Patrol agents assigned to the Nogales station were performing a stop vehicle when to occupants bailed out of the vehicle as agents approached it to question the occupants. A thorough search was conducted by the agents to no avail. Agents inspected the truck and found bundles of marijuana, weighing more than 825 pounds. The vehicle and marijuana, with a value of more than $660,000, were seized and taken to the Nogales station for processing.

In two separate incidents in the Sonoita area of responsibility, agents were sign cutting in the remote desert tracking two separate groups for more than 12 hours on Sunday and seized a total of 30 bundles of marijuana hidden in the brush, weighing a total of more than 1,430 pounds. The marijuana was valued at more than $1.2 million. Agents conducted thorough searches of both areas but were not able to locate the smugglers. The marijuana bundles were transported back to the Sonoita station for processing.

“Tucson Sector agents continue to rely on traditional tracking methods to interdict illegal narcotics from reaching our communities,” said Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Mark Rios. “These seizures are evidence that our agents will continue to remain vigilant, even as the Border Patrol makes it more difficult for smugglers to transport narcotics into the interior of the U.S.”

The U.S. Border Patrol continues to work tirelessly to protect our communities against the criminal element. Traditional tracking methods continue to be one of the most effective tools used by Border Patrol agents in the field. From Oct. 1, 2009, to Aug. 31, 2010, the Tucson sector Border Patrol seized more than 943,000 pounds of marijuana valued in excess of $754 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.

Fraudulent Classified Ads or Auction Sales

Fraudulent Classified Ads or Auction Sales

Internet criminals post classified ads or auctions for products they do not have. If you receive an auction product from a merchant or retail store, rather than directly from the auction seller, the item may have been purchased with someone else's stolen credit card number. Contact the merchant to verify the account used to pay for the item actually belongs to you.

Shoppers should be cautious and not provide financial information directly to the seller, as fraudulent sellers will use this information to purchase items for their scheme from the provided financial account. Always use a legitimate payment service to protect purchases.

As for product delivery, unfamiliar websites or individuals selling reduced or free shipping to customers through auction sites many times are deemed to be fraudulent. In many instances, these websites or sellers provide shipping labels to their customers as a service. However, the delivery service providers are ultimately not being paid to deliver the package; therefore, packages shipped by the victims using these labels are intercepted by delivery service providers because they are identified as fraudulent.

Diligently check each seller's rating and feedback along with their number of sales and the dates on which feedback was posted. Be wary of a seller with 100 percent positive feedback, if they have a low total number of feedback postings and all feedback was posted around the same date and time