U.S. Border Patrol Weekly Blotter: October 9 – October 15

(10/16/2008)Border Patrol agents seized over 9,458 pounds of marijuana valued at $7,565,960 and 99 pounds of cocaine valued at $3,155,200. Agents arrested 9 criminal aliens and 5 gang members. There were 7 rocking incidents.

*This overview is compiled from incidents reported to the Office of Border Patrol and is not intended to reflect all Border Patrol enforcement actions. Most arrests and seizures fail to meet the requirements for mandatory reporting to the Office of Border Patrol.

Reported on October 9, 2008

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Nogales, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the United States and was a registered sex offender in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Arivaca, Arizona. At the time of arrest, the subject had a gunshot wound to his leg and claimed to have been shot by unknown assailants two days earlier as he was traveling through the desert. The subject was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Reported on October 10, 2008

Laredo Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested two illegal aliens from Mexico near Cotulla, Texas. Records checks revealed both subjects were previously removed from the United States and one of the subjects was
identified as a member of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang.

Marfa Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested two illegal aliens from Mexico who were on a bus passing through the Sierra Blanca, Texas traffic checkpoint. Both subjects admitted to being members of the Sureno 13 gang. Records checks revealed one of the subjects was previously removed from the United States and the other had an active warrant of arrest for possession of marijuana and operating a drug location issued in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Miami Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested a national of Kazakhstan in West Palm Beach, Florida. Records checks revealed the subject had an active warrant of arrest for criminal possession of a firearm issued in the State of New York.

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested a United States Citizen (USC), seized two rifles, and 45 pieces of crack cocaine in Garceno, Texas. Agents encountered the subject inside a vehicle with several other individuals. The subject ran when approached by agents, and was observed discarding a plastic bag from his sock. Agents recovered the plastic bag, which contained the crack cocaine. Agents also located and arrested the subject, and found the two rifles nearby.

Reported on October 11, 2008

El Paso Sector - Border Patrol agents rescued four illegal aliens attempting to enter the United States near El Paso, Texas. Agents observed the four subjects in a local canal struggling against the current and in apparent distress. Agents deployed a rescue rope and pulled all four subjects to safety. A fifth subject managed to exit the canal on his own and returned to Mexico.

San Diego Sector - Border Patrol agents reported that two unidentified subjects in Mexico threw rocks and glass bottles at agents and a civilian contractor approximately five miles east of the San Ysidro, California Port of Entry. An agent deployed his Border Patrol issued Pepperball Launching System, and the unidentified subjects left the area without further incident.

Reported on October 12, 2008

El Centro Sector - Border Patrol agents recovered a USC juvenile who was discovered walking alone in Calexico, California. The subject was reported missing by his mother in early September, 2008. The juvenile was turned over to local law enforcement authorities.

El Paso Sector - Border Patrol agents received a request for assistance from local law enforcement authorities and responded to a single vehicle accident near Alamogordo, New Mexico. Agents discovered two injured persons and rendered first aid. An agent performed CPR on one of the subjects until emergency medical services (EMS) arrived. One person was pronounced deceased at the scene by EMS and the other person was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested a USC, seized 6,460 pounds of marijuana valued at $5,167,680, and a 2005 Freightliner tractor-trailer at the Sarita, Texas traffic checkpoint. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A subsequent search of the trailer revealed the marijuana concealed within the cargo.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Casa Grande, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had an active warrant of arrest for aggravated sexual assault of a child issued in Plains, Texas.

Reported on October 13, 2008

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Douglas, Arizona. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Mexican Mafia gang. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the United States as an aggravated felon for a weapons offense, automobile theft, and possession of dangerous drugs.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Nogales, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject was convicted of first degree manslaughter in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and was previously removed from the United States.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested a USC, seized 21 pounds of marijuana valued at $16,440, and a Pontiac G6 sedan. The vehicle driven by the subject fled from the Border Patrol traffic checkpoint near Amado, Arizona and crashed into a parked pickup truck. The marijuana was discovered in the vehicle after the crash. The subject claimed to have lost consciousness after crashing his vehicle, and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

Reported on October 14, 2008

Del Rio Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico west of Carrizo Springs, Texas. Records checks revealed that the subject was previously removed from the United States, and that he was a convicted aggravated sex offender.

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested a USC, seized 99 pounds of cocaine valued at $3,155,200, and a 2008 Honda CR-V at the Sarita, Texas traffic checkpoint. The subject presented himself for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed the cocaine concealed in a hidden compartment under the driver’s and front passenger’s seats.

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents were involved in an exchange of gunfire near Abram, Texas. Agents observed a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck being loaded with bundles of suspected contraband near the Rio Grande River. The vehicle left the area and proceeded north. When the driver of the vehicle observed agents, he turned around and drove back toward the Rio Grande River. The driver abandoned the vehicle at the river and absconded into Mexico. Several subjects on the U.S. side of the river attempted to retrieve the bundles from the vehicle. As agents approached, one subject fired an automatic weapon at the agents. Agents returned fire, and the subjects fled across the river into Mexico using rafts. When agents attempted to retrieve the bundles, the subjects again fired at the agents. After a second exchange of gunfire, the subjects retreated further into Mexico. Agents recovered and seized 269 pounds of marijuana valued at $215,200, and the 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck.

San Diego Sector - Border Patrol agents discovered a single vehicle accident near Boulevard, California. Upon arrival, agents discovered a male victim trapped inside the burning vehicle. Agents were able to extract the victim from the burning vehicle, but the subject went into cardiac arrest. Border Patrol Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and paramedics attempted CPR, but were unsuccessful. The victim was pronounced deceased on the scene.

Reported on October 15, 2008

El Centro Sector - Border Patrol agents encountered an injured person on Interstate 8 near Ocotillo, California. The person stated that he and his brother-in-law were struck by a vehicle while they were walking on the side of the road. Agents searched the area and discovered the brother-in-law deceased on the side of the road. Agents located the vehicle involved in the accident approximately five miles from the deceased. Local law enforcement authorities responded, assumed responsibility for the scene, and arrested the driver of the vehicle on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents recovered a stolen 2007 Ford F-250 pickup truck and seized 2,729 pounds of marijuana valued at $2,183,080 near Arivaca, Arizona. Agents discovered the abandoned vehicle hidden in a dry creek bed loaded with the marijuana. Records checks revealed the vehicle was reported stolen in Tempe, Arizona.

Tucson Sector - A Border Patrol agent’s Service vehicle was rammed by a 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck near Pearce, Arizona. The agent was following the vehicle when the driver began driving in circles, rammed the agent's vehicle, and fled the scene. Agents initiated a search and found the pickup abandoned nearby. Air assets located several subjects hiding near the pickup truck and directed agents to the location, resulting in the arrest of 17 illegal aliens.

http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/ ... 9_1015.xml