Agents Foil Smugglers, Nab More than $5.7 Million in Dope

 

(Tuesday, February 08, 2011)

Edinburg, Texas - Although the Rio Grande Valley was thawing out from abnormally cold temperatures, that didn’t stop U.S. Border Patrol agents from putting the freeze on smugglers’ efforts to get more than 7,000 pounds of marijuana across the border over the past three days.
 
Marijuana Seized by Rio Grande Valley Sector

The largest seizure occurred Friday in Fronton, Texas, when agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station saw a Ford pickup truck drive down to the Rio Grande. When the truck arrived at the riverbank, several people began throwing bundles of marijuana into its bed.

Once the pickup was loaded, it was driven away from the river at a high rate of speed. Agents used a controlled tire deflation device and deflated three of the vehicle’s tires. Agents found the pickup nearby at an abandoned house.

 
 
 
2,300 lbs. Marijuana Seized by Border Patrol Agents in Rio Grande City 
 
As agents searched the area, they noticed the front door to the abandoned house was open and could see large bundles of marijuana inside. In the bed of the pickup and inside the house agents found more than 2,300 pounds of marijuana, with a value of more than $1.8 million.

In total, from Friday to Sunday, agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector seized more than $5.7 million in marijuana. The drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector’s toll-free telephone number at 800-863-9382.

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.

Busy Weekend for CBP Officers in San Diego, Imperial Counties

(Wednesday, February 09, 2011)

San Diego — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the ports of entry between California and Mexico were busy this weekend, stopping 652 pounds of narcotics worth almost an estimated $2.5 million.

CBP officers in the San Diego Field Office on Saturday and Sunday stopped approximately 467 pounds of marijuana, 147 pounds of cocaine, 29 pounds of methamphetamine, and almost 9 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, or “ice." The San Diego Field Office encompasses the San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, Calexico, and Andrade ports of entry, as well as airport and seaport activity in San Diego.

click for hi-res

CBP officers found 62 packages of marijuana in this engine compartment, weighing 168.5 pounds

The largest narcotic seizure took place at about 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 5 at the San Ysidro port of entry, when a 36-year-old male U.S. citizen drove a blue 1992 Chevrolet Silverado to the border crossing. A CBP officer roving through the lanes of waiting traffic screened the vehicle with a narcotic detector dog, and the canine alerted. CBP officers escorted the vehicle and driver for a more intensive inspection.

During the inspection, CBP officers found 62 packages wrapped in cellophane, packaging tape, and grease/oil under the vehicle’s hood, containing 168.5 pounds of marijuana. CBP seized the vehicle and narcotics and turned the driver over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

CBP stopped more than 175 immigration violators at the ports of entry this weekend, including people with counterfeit or altered documents, imposters to legal documents that do not belong to them, and persons hiding to try and avoid inspection when entering the United States.

In one incident at the Otay Mesa port of entry at about 7:10 p.m. on Saturday, a 27-year-old male Mexican citizen arrived at the Otay Mesa port of entry pedestrian processing area. The man did not provide any documentation, but orally claimed to be a U.S. citizen and the CBP officer referred him for further inspection.

Using fingerprint identification, CBP officers confirmed the man’s identity and that he is not able to legally enter the United States.

Later on Saturday at the same port of entry, at about 11:30 p.m., a 37-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a white Ford Mustang arrived at the Otay Mesa passenger port of entry. The driver presented a valid resident alien card, but the CBP officer suspected that he was not the true legal owner of the card.

CBP officers confirmed that the card in fact belonged to the driver’s older brother, and that the driver is not able to legally enter the United States.

Also this weekend, CBP officers stopped 13 fugitives with active arrest warrants.

CBP officers enforce hundreds of laws at the ports of entry into the United States, including not just immigration and customs laws, but also agriculture laws.

In one incident on Saturday, at about 8:30 a.m., a 46-year-old male Mexican citizen with a valid border crossing card arrived at the Tecate port of entry. The man was applying for an I-94 permit, required for Mexican visa holders with a border crossing card to travel beyond 25 miles from the border.

During his inspection, CBP officers found 77 pounds of undeclared pork tamales. The man paid a $175 civil penalty and was released. CBP seized and destroyed the pork products.

Drug smugglers caught on tape 35 miles north of U.S. border

 

• February 7th, 2011 8:51 am PT

A weekend video clip posted by Arizona Border Defenders shows six drug cartel mules (lackeys that transport drug-laden backpacks) carrying loads of marijuana more than 35 miles north of the U.S./Mexico border.

 

Arizona Border Defenders is a patriot group dedicated to exposing the porous southern borders by using hidden video cams throughout the region in order to document the hoards of illegal traffic flowing north into the country.

While a great many of these illegal aliens are seeking a better life for themselves or their family, drug cartels are also using the smuggling routes to transport drugs often making for a dangerous trek.

There are several reports of illegal aliens being robbed, beaten or raped by desert bandits preying on unsuspecting migrants who are walking through the harsh terrain.

The brief hidden camera video clip points to the risky side of passing through the desert at night. Many of these drug smugglers will use violence if anyone threatens their ability to transport their illicit drugs to a hungry U.S. consumer.

These well-placed hidden cameras provide a birds-eye view of just how dangerous the southern-border region remains and prove America’s borders remain unsecure.

Thanks to the Arizona Border Defenders for this great Video

 

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Drug smugglers caught on tape 35 miles north of U.S. border - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/drug-smugglers-caught-on-tape-35-miles-north-of-u-s-border#ixzz1DOYeDgr8

Border Patrol snares 31 illegal aliens along San Diego coastline

 

• February 7th, 2011 7:33 pm PT

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested 31 illegal aliens yesterday who tried to unlawfully enter the country aboard small, panga-style boats off the San Diego coastline.

Just after midnight, Border Patrol agents, working in conjunction with CBP Air and Marine Branch, spotted a panga boat cross the U.S. international boundary and travel north along the California coast.

The vessel came ashore near the mouth of the Tijuana River, several individuals disembarked and then the boat quickly returned south towards Mexico.  Border Patrol agents wasted no time and apprehended 14 individuals and placed them under arrest for unlawfully entering the United States.

According to CBP, two female and 11 male Mexican nationals as well as one male Honduran national were transported to a local Border Patrol station for processing.

“A second maritime smuggling attempt was intercepted this morning near Camp Pendleton, California. At approximately 2:50 a.m., Border Patrol agents observed a panga-style boat approach the shoreline near Red Beach. Several individuals jumped out of the boat and headed toward cliffs east of the shoreline,” a CBP statement read.

Border Patrol agents quickly responded to the scene and arrested 17 individuals who all claimed to be Mexican nationals illegally entering the United States. Agents transported 13 males and 4 females to a local Border Patrol Station for processing.

However the boat absconded back toward Mexico, before agents could reach the location.

With the deployment of the National Guard along the California coast, CBP and Border Patrol have been able to hone their nighttime observation skills and been able to foil many daring maritime entries into America along the Southern California coast.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/kimberly-dvorak

Continue reading on Examiner.com: http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/border-patrol-snares-31-illegal-aliens-along-san-diego-coastline#ixzz1DOWfNJZ3