Thread: Arrests, seizures, drug busts, etc. for 8/9/12

Local News for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Douglas CBP Officers Seize Black Tar Heroin
08/09/2012 12:49 PM EDT
Douglas, Ariz. - A Silicon Valley woman was arrested Tuesday for attempting to smuggle heroin through the Douglas port of entry.Customs and Border Protection officers referred Rachel Nicole Amaya, 28, of Morgan Hill, Calif., for inspection of her Jeep Cherokee when she attempted to enter the United States. (more)

Man Wanted by FBI on Drug Charges Arrested by Nogales CBP Officers
08/09/2012 12:49 PM EDT
Nogales, Ariz. - A 23-year-old Nogales man, wanted on drug charges in Boston by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was arrested Tuesday by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Mariposa port.Officers referred Nestor Antonio Verduzco Amescua and his passenger for secondary inspection of his Chevrolet sedan when he applied to enter the United States. (more)

CBP Rescues Illegal Immigrant from Steep Cliff
08/09/2012 12:49 PM EDT
Tucson, Ariz. - A man stuck on a near-vertical cliff within the Cerro Colorado Mountains near Arivaca, Ariz., was rescued in a Customs and Border Protection joint operation yesterday. The subject, a Mexican national in the U.S. illegally, called 911 twice Monday stating he was lost and stuck on a ledge. (more)

CBP Officers at the Brownsville Gateway International Bridge Seized over Half Million Dollars Worth of Cocaine this Weekend
08/09/2012 12:49 PM EDT
Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at the Brownsville Gateway International Bridge seized over 16 pounds of cocaine in three separate incidents over the weekend."Our officers' continued vigilance and outstanding commitment to help keep drugs from entering our country through the border has enabled us to intercept these narcotics at one of our international crossings," said Michael Freeman, Port Director, Brownsville Port of Entry. (more)

CBP Advises Hunters to Obtain USDA Import Permits for Game Fowl as Hunting Season Approaches
08/09/2012 12:49 PM EDT
Laredo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is advising hunters who may travel to Mexico for dove or quail hunting of a new requirement to obtain import permits from U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Veterinary Services (USDA-VS) for their game fowl prior to their return to the U. (more)

Lukeville CBP Officers Arrest 3, Seize Coke, Heroin, Cash, Ammo
08/09/2012 12:49 PM EDT
Lukeville, Ariz. - Three men, two Mexican nationals and one U.S. citizen, were arrested in separate incidents Friday and Saturday for attempting to smuggle contraband across the international border.Friday, Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Lukeville Port, selected a 2005 Ford Focus for a random secondary inspection when the driver applied to enter the U. (more)

www.ice.gov

FBI E-Mail Updates

Pelham Man Pleads Guilty to Laundering Money in Scam with Daughter Aug. 8, 2012 - Birmingham Additional Charges Against Former Philadelphia Police Officer Aug. 8, 2012 - Philadelphia Cook County Department of Revenue Employee Arrested on Attempted Extortion Charges Aug. 8, 2012 - Chicago Defendant Sentenced for Attacking Prison Guard Aug. 8, 2012 - Atlanta Former Chairman of the Board of Publicly Traded Company Pleads Guilty to Insider Trading Scheme Aug. 8, 2012 - Newark Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography Aug. 8, 2012 - Portland Former Husband and Wife Sentenced for Fraudulent Health Care Billing Scheme Aug. 8, 2012 - Denver Robbery of Bank Atlantic Branch in Deerfield Beach Aug. 8, 2012 - Miami Atlantic City Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery Aug. 8, 2012 - Newark Middletown Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography Aug. 8, 2012 - New Haven FBI Consumer Alert: Don’t Fall for Phony Fines Aug. 8, 2012 - Salt Lake City Former PHA Employee Sentenced to Prison for Extortion and Obstruction Aug. 8, 2012 - Philadelphia Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Traveling into the District of Columbia to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct Aug. 8, 2012 - Washington More Charges for Alleged Somali Pirates Indicted for Attack of the USS Ashland Aug. 8, 2012 - Norfolk www.fbi.gov

I.C.E.News Release

August 9, 2012
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma fugitive operations team shuts down stolen-car 'chop shop' and arrests 2 aliens for illegal possession of firearms

OKLAHOMA CITY — While targeting a previously deported illegal alien, officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) discovered another illegal alien who was in possession methamphetamine and was allegedly operating a "chop shop" to dismantle stolen cars.ERO Fugitive Operations team members from Oklahoma City, working with ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), targeted Luis Armando Saenz-Gutierrez, 36, from Mexico. Saenz-Gutierrez had been convicted in Oklahoma in 2009 of drug trafficking, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. In 2011, he was released early from prison under Oklahoma's Rapid Repatriation Act and was deported by ERO. Under this Act, aliens who violate the terms of their release and illegally re-enter the United States must serve the remainder of their Oklahoma state prison sentences, and they may also be prosecuted federally. Anyone who re-enters the United States after having been previously deported commits a felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

After arriving at Saenz-Gutierrez's house in Oklahoma City, ERO officers encountered Francisco Hernandez-Seguame, 26, exiting the residence. They determined that Hernandez-Seguame was also from Mexico and was illegally in the United States. HSI special agents secured a search warrant for the house, and located and arrested Saenz-Gutierrez. In the house, they also discovered three handguns, one sawed-off shotgun and various calibers of ammunition. It is unlawful for illegal aliens to possess firearms in the United States.
ERO officers then visited the Oklahoma City apartment of Hernandez-Seguame, where they received consent to search the apartment for the woman who resided there. During that search, officers discovered a plastic bag filled with about one-half pound of methamphetamine.

The street value of the methamphetamine was estimated at about $4,000.

From the interviews conducted, ERO officers and HSI special agents determined that Hernandez-Seguame dismantled stolen cars in a vacant lot adjacent to the house where Saenz-Gutierrez was located. Officers recovered four stolen vehicles from the lot, as well as an illegal sawed-off shotgun with ammunition.

"This ICE team effort between our ERO officers and HSI special agents removed two dangerous criminals from Oklahoma City streets," said Simona L. Flores, field office director of ERO Dallas. "Ultimately, our operations help improve public safety."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

• U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1208/120809oklahomacity.htm

I.C.E.News Release

August 7, 2012
Norfolk, VA

Hampton Roads Border Security Enforcement Taskforce intercepts 35 kilos of cocaine in 2 weeks


NORFOLK, Va. — The Hampton Roads-based multi-agency Border Enforcement Security Task Force has seized approximately 35 kilograms of cocaine at the Port of Norfolk in the past two weeks in separate drug smuggling ventures.

The Hampton Roads Border Enforcement Security Taskforce is comprised of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard and other law enforcement partners.

In the first seizure, which occurred July 27, the task force seized 32 kilograms of cocaine off of a vessel arriving into the Port of Norfolk. Prior to the vessel arriving in Hampton Roads, HSI special agents, Customs and Border Protection officers, and Coast Guardsmen boarded the vessel and discovered the cocaine hidden in one of the vessel cargo holds. The cocaine, which has an estimated street value of about $1 million, is believed to have come from Colombia and was destined for Europe. None of the crewmembers were suspected of being involved and no arrests were made.

A second seizure occurred Aug. 4 when the task force seized three kilograms of cocaine. The narcotics were taken off of a container vessel that was due into Hampton Roads. This seizure resulted in the arrest of two individuals, neither of whom were ship crewmembers. This investigation is ongoing.

"These enforcement actions demonstrate that law enforcement agencies working together under the auspices of the BEST, are positioned to disrupt and dismantle smuggling organizations' efforts to bring their illicit goods into the United States," said John P. Torres, special agent in charge of HSI. "The Hampton Roads BEST is host to Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard with other federal, state and local law enforcement partners to bring together the strengths of each agency into one united front."

"I am very proud of the work of my officers and the BEST," said Mark J. Laria, CBP area port director. "This seizure is further evidence of how the law enforcement authorities in Hampton Roads can quickly pull together as a team to protect the citizens of Hampton Roads and the country."

The Hampton Roads Border Enforcement Security Taskforce was formed in July 2011 and is comprised of officers and agents from ten federal, state and local agencies. Team members are responsible for identifying, interdicting and investigating a wide variety of maritime-related crime including trade fraud, cargo theft and the illegal smuggling of drugs, persons, currency and weapons.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

• U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

Hampton Roads Border Security Enforcement Taskforce intercepts 35 kilos of cocaine in 2 weeks