Drug seizures up, border apprehensions down in Az in 2011

Border Patrol credits technology, Guard, more workers

Posted Dec 16, 2011

Janet Rose Jackman
TucsonSentinel.com

jim.greenhill/FlickrU.S. Customs and Border Protection said the presence of National Guard troops along Arizona's border with Mexico helped to bring down the number of apprehensions and increase drug seizures in 2011.

Tucson Sector Border Patrol apprehensions were down more than 40 percent in 2011, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection attributes to technology, improved infrastructure and more employees, CBP announced Friday.

Border Patrol agents working along the 262-miles of international border in Arizona, apprehended 123,285 illegal immigrants during the fiscal year, a reduction of 42 percent from 2010, the Border Patrol said.

Agents also seized 1,039,443 pounds of marijuana, or nearly 520 tons, in 2011 — a slight increase over 2010, the Border Patrol said.

The number of border-crosser deaths was down by 23 percent over 2010. There were 191 documented deaths in 2011 compared with 249 the previous year. Tucson Sector agents were able to rescue 509 people in distress, the agency said.

The Border Patrol also credits greater help from the community and increased collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and the National Guard’s presence along the border for those numbers.

In 2011, there were 532 National Guard troops deployed along the border in the Tucson Sector. The Border Patrol said those troops assisted with surveillance and reconnaissance and counter-narcotics enforcement.

Funding for the replacement of nearly nine miles of fencing on the border and the expansion of the Naco Station also helped, the Border Patrol said.