Thread: ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending May 24, 2013

I.C.E.News Release

May 24, 2013
Washington, DC
ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending May 24, 2013

May 23, 2013 – 3 defendants plead guilty to participating in ambush murder and attempted murder of HSI special agents in Mexico

A Mexican national pleaded guilty May 23 to the murder of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent and the attempted murder of another HSI special agent in Mexico. Full Story
May 21, 2013 – Federal authorities return ancient coins to Bulgaria

Hundreds of ancient coins that were smuggled into the United States are back in the hands of their rightful owner, the people of Bulgaria. HSI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection returned 546 ancient coins to Bulgarian Ambassador Elena Poptodorova. The coins were stolen and smuggled from Bulgaria into the United States for sale to the highest bidder. Full Story
May 22, 2013 – Nigerian man convicted of fighting ICE officers during deportation attempt

A Nigerian man illegally present in the United States was convicted in federal court May 22 of obstructing his removal from the country by fighting ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers during an attempt to place him aboard a removal flight to his home country. Full Story
May 23, 2013 – Corrupt Colombian government employee and criminal defense attorney extradited in obstruction of justice case

A corrupt Colombian government employee and a criminal defense attorney were extradited to the United States and arraigned on obstruction of justice charges May 22. The two Columbian nationals face obstruction of justice charges for stealing sensitive and confidential U.S. law enforcement information concerning prosecutions in the Eastern District of New York and selling that information to a narcotics trafficker. Full Story
May 22, 2013 – HSI, FBI dismantle sex trafficking ring in Atlanta

Three Mexican citizens are in federal custody on sex trafficking charges in Atlanta following a joint investigation by HSI and the FBI. Full Story

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.
　
　
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1305/130524washingtondc.htm

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Local News Update

News for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Four Laredo Sector Border Patrol Mustangs Named 05/24/2013 12:48 PM EDT Laredo, Texas - Thanks to some creative students, four horses assigned to the Laredo Sector Horse Patrol were given official names. The horses were wild mustangs adopted through the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program.During the horse naming ceremonies, a proclamation is read, signifying the official name change for the horses and the schools receive a picture of the horse with a certificate commemorating the special event. (more) U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint Foils Drug Smuggling Attempts 05/24/2013 12:48 PM EDT San Clemente, Calif. - U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 5 checkpoint foiled two drug smuggling attempts on Tuesday resulting in the arrest of two suspects and the confiscation of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana valued at more than $1,771,000. (more) CBP Advises Arizona Travelers to Prepare for Holiday 05/24/2013 12:48 PM EDT Tucson, Ariz. - In an effort to provide the best possible service to the traveling public, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials throughout Arizona are proactively reminding the traveling public to make sure they have the proper documents, and to plan for a possible increase in traffic over the Memorial Day weekend (May 24-27). (more) Virgin Islands CBP Officers Identify U.S. Citizen With Outstanding Warrant 05/24/2013 12:48 PM EDT Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands - On Monday, May 20, Mr. Demarquize Antron Dawson, 27, a U.S. citizen, presented himself for inspection at the Cyril E. King Airport pre-departure area, before boarding an American Airlines flight from St. Thomas to Miami. (more) Virgin Islands CBP Detains Wanted Man on Felony Charges 05/24/2013 12:48 PM EDT St. Thomas, Virgin Islands -U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers identified yesterday afternoon a man sought out for a Felony Warrant for Probation Violation for a drug charge from the Broward County Sheriff's Office. Eric Michael Lukash, 33, a United States citizen, presented himself for CBP inspection at the Cyril E. (more) Travel Advisory: CBP Announces the Rerouting of all Traffic at the Neche, North Dakota, Port of Entry 05/24/2013 12:48 PM EDT Neche, N.D. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is advising the traveling public that all commercial and passenger vehicle traffic traveling through the Neche port of entry will be required to use an alternate route as U.S. Highway 18 has been closed due to flooding. (more) Border Patrol Weekend: Seized $1.7 Million in Pot, Removed 2 People from Car Trunk, Rescued 1 from Well 05/23/2013 05:24 PM EDT Tucson, Ariz. - Some Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents spent their weekend seizing more than 3,000 pounds of marijuana; removing two illegal immigrants from a car trunk; and retrieving one man from the bottom of a 20-foot deep well.Beginning with Ajo Station, Border Patrol agents discovered an abandoned Ford F-150 Friday near mile marker 17 on Federal Route 21 filled with 1,839 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $919,500. (more) Summer Reminder for All Pleasure Boats 05/23/2013 05:24 PM EDT New York - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is advising boaters throughout the New York/New Jersey area to make sure they follow the below guidelines this summer while they are cruising on their boats."CBP wants all private boaters in the New York/New Jersey area to enjoy the summer boating season. (more) CBP Installs New Kiosks, Creates Ready Lane for Faster Border Crossings in Downtown Calexico 05/23/2013 05:24 PM EDT Calexico, Calif. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have installed six new kiosks to read border crossing documents and are now operating a pedestrian Ready Lane at the Calexico downtown port of entry. The six kiosks, in use at each of the six pedestrian processing stations at Calexico West, are designed to help facilitate faster border crossings by allowing travelers to scan their own border crossing documents before even reaching the CBP officer assigned to their inspection. (more) Get Ready for a Busy Border Crossing Weekend 05/23/2013 05:24 PM EDT Buffalo, N.Y. - As part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's mission to safeguard the nation's borders, CBP is offering the following guidance on how to expedite border crossings for travelers returning through Western New York's ports of entry.Prepare for the inspection process before arriving at the inspection booth. (more) CBP Catches Elephant Meat, Dead Primate, Exotic Animal Skins at LAX 05/23/2013 05:24 PM EDT Los Angeles - It was a weird wildlife week for U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) in Los Angeles. In just four days, from May 6 through May 10, CBP officers intercepted and seized nearly half a pound of elephant meat and a dead primate at the International Mail Facility. (more) San Juan CBP Seizes $43 K in Unreported Currency 05/23/2013 05:24 PM EDT San Juan, Puerto Rico - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized more than $43,500 in unreported currency at the Luis Munoz Marin Airport last Wednesday, May 15, 2013, in two separate incidents.While conducting outbound operations on a JetBlue flight destined to the Dominican Republic, a CBP K9 alerted to a passenger, who was then interviewed by CBP officers. (more) CBP Officers at El Paso Port Stop SUV with Multiple Drug-Filled Compartments 05/23/2013 12:23 PM EDT El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers working at the El Paso Port of Entry seized 207 pounds of marijuana Monday. The estimated street value of the seized contraband is $165,600."Smugglers filled most every available space in this SUV with marijuana," said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Port Director. (more) Hidalgo International Bridge CBP Officers Seize $485K in Methamphetamine 05/23/2013 12:23 PM EDT Hidalgo, Texas- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized alleged methamphetamine valued at approximately $485,000 and arrested a man from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. (more) Brownsville CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Possession of Gambling Devices 05/23/2013 12:23 PM EDT Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville Port of Entry encountered a man wanted on possession of gambling devices charges.On May 21, CBP officers at the Veterans' International Bridge escorted Jose Parra, a U. (more) CBP Officers Discover 5 Pounds of Cocaine Inside Truck 05/23/2013 12:23 PM EDT San Juan, Puerto Rico - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered 2.45 kilograms (5.4 pounds) of cocaine concealed within a heavy duty truck arriving from the Dominican Republic on the ferry on Friday. This is the third incident in which CBP has found narcotics inside vehicles arriving on the ferry in the past 10 days. (more)

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