Weekend drug smuggling attempts prevented

U.S. Border Patrol agents from Yuma Sector's Wellton Station arrested 13 suspects and seized approximately 667 pounds of marijuana in separate incidents over the weekend.

During that same time period, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a Mexican national at the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz., for allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly 16 pounds of methamphetamine and more than two pounds of cocaine into the country.

On Friday, CBP officers referred Bonfilio Hernandez-Sanchez, 58, a Mexican national living in San Luis, Ariz., to the secondary inspection area for an additional inspection of his Honda sedan.

After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the back of the vehicle, a further search led to the discovery of 12 packages of methamphetamine and another package of cocaine hidden in the gas tank.

The drugs and vehicle were processed for seizure. Hernandez was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations.

Also on Friday, according to a news release issued by the Yuma Sector Public Affairs Office, agents patrolling 10 miles west of Gila Bend detected the foot prints of a group of people who had been traveling on foot through the desert.

Agents tracked the group and located seven suspected drug smugglers and 239 pounds of marijuana. The drugs are worth an estimated $119,500.

Then on Sunday agents patrolling near the same area apprehended a group of six suspected drug smugglers with 428 pounds of marijuana valued at $214,000.

In both incidents, the marijuana and suspects were turned over to Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter at @YSJamesGilbert.