United States v. Tommy Joe Coplen, United States of America v. Henry Valentin Valenzuela, United States of America v. John Balmer McKittrick

On November 5,1974, United States Customs Agent Kontrabecki conducted a routine investigation to discover smuggling activity at Freeway Airport, Tucson, Arizona. During this investigation, he discovered marijuana debris in an aircraft registered to Tommy Joe Copien. Thereafter, Copien and his aircraft were kept under surveillance by federal authorities.

On February 20, 1975, defendant Valenzuela (under observation) drove Copien to Freeway Airport. Thereafter, Copien departed in his plane (under observation) and flew into Mexico, south of Caborca, Mexico, located approximately sixty miles from the American border. Copien departed for this flight without filing the required flight plan. He also failed to activate the aircraft navigation lights when it became dark, at approximately 6:30 to 7:15 p. m.

After dropping Copien off at the airport, Valenzuela met defendant McKittrick at a restaurant. They then entered their separate vehicles and left Tucson, heading north on Interstate 10 (under observation). Both vehicles left Interstate 10 at the Toltec Road Exit and proceeded south towards Arizona City, finally entering Silver Bell Estates, a known narcotics drop point. Once…