U.S. Border Patrol Weekly Blotter: January 22 - January 28

(01/29/2009)Border Patrol agents seized over 20,979 pounds of marijuana valued at $16,249,858. Agents arrested 8 criminal aliens and 8 gang members. There were 5 rocking incidents.

*This overview is compiled from incidents reported to 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 Border Patrol Headquarters.

Reported on January 22, 2009

Miami Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Honduras near Marathon, Florida. Records checks revealed the subject was a convicted sex offender and was previously removed from the United States.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,037 pounds of marijuana valued at $829,600, a 2006 Lincoln Navigator, and a 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche near Why, Arizona. When agents attempted to conduct vehicle stops the drivers of both vehicles drove off-road and absconded. Records checks revealed both vehicles were reported stolen, and the marijuana was found in bundles within the vehicles.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents recovered 415 pounds of marijuana valued at $332,000 and a handgun from a stolen Jeep Liberty near Why, Arizona. The

Jeep had been involved in a single vehicle rollover accident.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,501 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,200,800 and recovered a stolen 2005 Chevrolet pick-up truck near Gila Bend, Arizona. Agents discovered the abandoned truck containing the marijuana after responding to a call from the Barry M. Goldwater Range concerning the vehicle.

Reported on January 23, 2009

El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,556 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,244,800 and recovered a stolen Chevrolet Avalanche near Calexico, California. Agents observed a vehicle illegally enter the United States through a barricade that had been moved. When agents responded, the driver made a u-turn and attempted to drive back into Mexico. Agents observed the vehicle hit a barricade and two subjects exited the disabled vehicle and ran into Mexico. The marijuana was discovered inside the abandoned vehicle.

New Orleans Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested a national of Vietnam near Mobile, Alabama. Records checks revealed the subject had an active arrest warrant for parole violations issued by the State of New York. The subject was previously convicted of robbery, assault and possession and sale of a controlled substance.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,175 pounds of marijuana valued at $940,000, a 1999 Ford Windstar, and arrested two nationals of Mexico following a vehicle stop near Hidalgo, Texas.

Reported on January 24, 2009

El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,355 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,084,192 and a 2003 Ford F-350 near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Agents encountered a vehicle they suspected of entering illegally into the United States through a breach in a vehicle barrier. As agents approached, the driver of the vehicle drove into the desert and towards Mexico. At the international border, the vehicle stopped and two individuals were seen exiting and absconding into Mexico. The marijuana was discovered inside the abandoned vehicle.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,413 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,130,400, a Ford F-250, and a Dodge Ram near Abram, Texas. Agents responded to a citizen’s report of two abandoned vehicles loaded with the suspected narcotics, and discovered the marijuana in both vehicles.

Reported on January 25, 2009

Buffalo Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested a United States Citizen (USC) and an illegal alien from England near Niagara Falls, New York. The two subjects became stranded when the USC attempted to smuggle the illegal alien into the United States across the Niagara River. The two were rescued by local emergency services personnel and transported to a local hospital. Both subjects were treated and released into Border Patrol custody.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,950 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,559,760, a 1996 tractor-trailer and arrested a national of Mexico at the traffic checkpoint near Sarita, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A subsequent search revealed the marijuana commingled with boxes of broccoli.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,220 pounds of marijuana, valued at $442,705 and a 1995 Ford near Abram, Texas. The vehicle was found abandoned on the side of the road.

Reported on January 26, 2009

El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico after responding to assist local law enforcement officers near Indio, California. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the United States and was convicted of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14.

Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Cotulla, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Honduras in Hidalgo, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang.

Reported on January 27, 2009

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested a USC near Green Valley, Arizona. The subject arrived at the traffic checkpoint in Amado, Arizona and a Border Patrol canine alerted to her vehicle. The subject fled from the checkpoint and was pulled over several minutes later. She became belligerent with agents and refused to turn off her vehicle’s engine. When an agent attempted to reach into the subject’s vehicle to stop the engine, the subject sped away, dragging the agent approximately 15 yards before he fell to the ground. Agents followed the subject until her vehicle became disabled and she was taken into custody. A search of the vehicle revealed 210 pounds of marijuana valued at $168,000 and resulted in the seizure of the marijuana and the vehicle.

Reported on January 28, 2009

Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested two nationals of Somalia and seized 2,852 pounds of marijuana valued at $2,281,600, and a tractor-trailer in Laredo, Texas. The driver, a Somali national, presented himself, his passenger, and the tractor-trailer for inspection. During the inspection, a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A subsequent search of the trailer revealed 120 bundles of marijuana hidden within pallets of bricks.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested a USC and seized 1,507 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,205,600, and a 1995 International tractor-trailer at the checkpoint near Sarita, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the tractor. A subsequent search revealed the marijuana concealed in a load of cabbage.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,165 pounds of marijuana valued at $932,000 near Havana, Texas. Agents responded to suspected illicit activity and observed a group of 20 subjects carrying bundles near the Rio Grande River. Agents confronted the group, which dropped the bundles and absconded. The marijuana was discovered inside the bundles.

Yuma Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 3,623 pounds of marijuana valued at $2,898,400, near Yuma, Arizona. Agents observed three vehicles illegally enter the United States and deployed a Controlled Tire Deflation Device (CTDD). One vehicle avoided the CTDD and returned to Mexico. The other two vehicles struck the CTDD and subsequently became mired in a river channel on the U.S. side of the international border. The occupants of the two vehicles removed several bundles and fled on foot into Mexico. Agents recovered the remaining marijuana from the two partially submerged vehicles.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_secur ... 2_0128.xml