Douglas teen stopped at border with more than 500 pounds of marijuana


Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 1:10 PM MDT


U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers stopped a drug smuggling attempt when they seized more than 500 pounds of marijuana from a 17-year-old boy.


Department of Public Safety officers stopped a vehicle with more than 134 pounds of marijuana near Tombstone. The driver was Douglas 18-year-old, Steven Jones.

On Friday the 28th at about 10 p.m., CBP Officers at the Douglas Port of Entry were screening travelers when they became suspicious of a 17-year-old Douglas boy driving a Dodge Dakota. During an inspection of the boy’s vehicle the officers noticed a discrepancy in the bed of the Dakota pick-up. Further inspection revealed that there was a secret compartment built into the bed of the Dakota that contained more than 500 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $840,000.  

CBP Officers seized the marijuana and the Dodge Dakota. The boy was turned over to the custody of his parents while pending a court summons before a Federal Magistrate.  

A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt.  An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt

DPS Officers in Cochise County seize over 600 pounds of              marijuana

In the latest efforts in our fight against drugs, Officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) seized 637 pounds of marijuana in three separate traffic stops in Cochise County during the last 48 hours.

On Monday evening, August 24, at about 8:40 P.M., a DPS officer stopped a 1994 Ford Pickup traveling westbound on I-10 at milepost 338, two miles west of Willcox, for following too close and having a cracked windshield.  In the vehicle was 381 pounds of marijuana.  The driver was detained for further investigation.

On Tuesday, August 25, at about 1:00 P.M., a DPS GIITEM officer stopped a 96 Chevrolet 2 door for having a cracked windshield at milepost 11 on US 191, eleven miles north of Douglas.  The officer located 122 pounds of marijuana in the trunk.  Martha Mendez, 50, of Douglas was booked into the Bisbee Jail for possession and transportation of marijuana for sale.

On Tuesday, August 25,  at about 3:00 P.M., a DPS GIITEM officer stopped a 99 Mercury Sable for failing to stop at a stop sign on Davis Road and SR 80, one mile south of Tombstone.  A Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle and 134 pounds of marijuana were located in the trunk.  Steven Jones, 18, of Douglas was booked into the Bisbee Jail for possession and transportation of marijuana for sale.

This brings the total amount of marijuana seized by DPS Officers in Cochise County up to 1200 pounds for the month of August.

 

Copyright © 2010 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Huh wrote on Sep 8, 2009 9:48 PM:

    " Well, I would bet money that they are going to charge him as an adult. If they really aren't going to play favorites then they will print his name when they move to charge him as an adult. We'll see... "

    me wrote on Sep 4, 2009 1:23 AM:

    " The arrests at the POE are federal arrests and the DPS are state. That's why the different prosecution techniques. Plus I'm sure the Federal gov't saves on housing for the juvi. "

    Confuse..... wrote on Sep 3, 2009 10:36 PM:

    " Case sounds familiar. Remember grandma at the POE? We'll never know! Whose to say this kid, is not your next door neighbor? What are the chances that his parents didn't know, that their son was dealing drugs? I guess it pays, to have family in the department. So, it's safe to say, a box of doughnuts does come with it's own benefits. Why wasn't he handed over to juvi and held in jail? Got milk? "

    Jay Dee wrote on Sep 3, 2009 7:15 PM:

    " What people need to understand is that if you are carrying drugs across the border and your a juvenile, you may be released pending a court date in federal court. If you are an adult, then you can be held at CCSO Jail. Our County Attroney refused to prosecute people caught at the Port and the Feds need to make a decision if they prosecute or release the smuggler. No Favoritism is really used, but the courts don't have the time to take all cased and the Jails appear to always be full. What a wonderful system though. "

    Wondering wrote on Sep 3, 2009 11:58 AM:

    " Kind of makes you wonder ,is this boy related to someone in the department? Why he was not turned over to juvi instead of the parents. Over 500 lbs FOUND in the vehicle. These others had less and they were jailed or detained. "

    confused wrote on Sep 3, 2009 9:46 AM:

    " don't understand why the 17 year transporting over 500 lbs of drugs is handed over to the parents custody.... over 500lbs?? I've seen & heard reports of teens being caught with a lot less drugs and they are held in custody until the court date. Seems like special treatment to me, maybe I'm wrong but that's how I see it. "

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