ACTT Operation Yields More Than $4.4 Million in Marijuana “Intelligence Driven Operations” continue to yield results

Tucson, Ariz. – A 60-day Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats operation in the Silver Bell Mountains of Arizona concluded on May 20. The ACTT operation resulted in the seizure of more than 8,900 pounds of marijuana and 17 weapons. The marijuana had an estimated street value $4.4 million.

The Tucson Sector Border Patrol was the lead agency during this ACTT operation which focused on apprehending smugglers and disrupting the activities of transnational criminal organizations operating in the Silver Bell Mountains. The intelligence driven operation displayed the unprecedented level of cooperation, coordination and communication that is taking place between law enforcement agencies across Arizona. The operation also exemplifies the ACTT’s commitment to deter, disrupt, and interdict individuals and criminal organizations that pose a threat to border communities.

"The significant results from operations such as this prove that all the efforts to increase border security are working,” said Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent Randy Hill. “Multi-agency partnerships and cooperation are essential to making our communities safer.”

The operation resulted in the following arrests and seizures:

• 732 illegal aliens
• 1 United States citizen
• 8,925 pounds of marijuana
• 17 firearms

This operation involved the following agencies:

• Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO)
• Pima County Sheriff’s Department Border Crimes Unit (PCSD BCU)
• Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZ DPS)
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• U.S. Border Patrol, Tucson Sector
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI)
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO)
• Marana Police Department (MPD)
• Eloy Police Department (EPD)
• Tucson Police Department (TPD)
• Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD)

ACTT, launched in September 2009, continues to utilize a collaborative, cooperative enforcement approach that leverages the capabilities and resources of Department of Homeland Security agencies in Arizona in partnership with other federal, state, local, tribal governments and the government of Mexico against criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.