Willcox, Arizona - Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents from the Willcox Station detained a 27-year-old woman after finding more than 55 pounds of marijuana hidden throughout her GMC Yukon at the State Route 80 immigration checkpoint Sunday evening.
Agents referred the woman, a legal permanent resident from Mexico, for a secondary inspection after a Border Patrol canine alerted to an odor it was trained to detect. During the subsequent search, agents located more than $27,000 worth of marijuana hidden within the vehicle’s walls.
Agents arrested the woman for narcotics smuggling and seized the marijuana and vehicle.
Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free.