Federal agencies stop drug smuggling attempts in Yuma

Federal law enforcement agencies seized marijuana and cocaine in separate drug smuggling attempts in the Yuma area over the past week.

On Monday, Yuma Border Patrol agents arrested three people who tried to smuggle 32 pounds of marijuana worth $25,600, the patrol said.

The arrest occurred after agents saw a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado traveling near the Colorado River at County 8th Street, the patrol said.

The vehicle was stopped and a search by a patrol canine unit found 13 plastic-wrapped bundles of pot hidden in a spare tire in the back seat, the patrol said. Two more bundles were found elsewhere in the vehicle.

The 19-year-old woman driver and two passengers, a 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl, were turned over to the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force.

Last week, Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than 72 pounds of cocaine and 231 pounds of marijuana worth more than $2.4 million in separate attempts to smuggle drugs through the San Luis Port of Entry. CBP estimated the total value of the seized drugs at $2.4 million.

In the first attempt, on June 8, more than 35 pounds of cocaine was discovered by CBP officers within the truck bed of a GMC Sierra pickup after the 17-year old driver was referred to the vehicle secondary lot.

The unidentified driver was arrested and turned over the Department of Public Safety, CBP said.

Later in the week, a 33-year-old man was found with more than 36 pounds of cocaine concealed in the dash of the Honda Accord he was driving, CBP said, adding the drugs were detected by a canine detector dog.

The cocaine had an estimated street value of $1.85 million, CBP said.

Also last week, a 22-year-old man was arrested after trying to smuggle more than 39 pounds of marijuana in a Honda Civic he drove across the border. A CBP officer screening travelers entering the country found the packages during a cursory inspection, CBP said.

And, a 39-year-old man attempted to smuggle more than 85 pounds of marijuana while driving a Hyundai Accent, CBP said.

A CBP officer screening travelers entering the country referred the car to the vehicle secondary lot for further inspection, which turned up the pot hidden in the vehicle's quarter panel, CBP said.

The smuggling attempts continued with a 20-year-old driver of a Ford Focus who was found with 67 pounds of marijuana.

On Friday, a 20-year-old woman was arrested after an X-ray done by officers revealed 39 pounds of marijuana in the spare tire in the Geo Metro she was driving, the agency said.