U.S. Border Patrol Weekly Blotter: October 30 – November 5

(11/06/2008)Border Patrol agents seized over 11,972 pounds of marijuana valued at $9,962,056. Agents arrested 7 criminal aliens and 5 gang members. There were 10 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 30, 2008

El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Guatemala near Calexico, California. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the United States, and was a convicted sex offender in the state of California.

El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico in El Paso, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Paisa prison gang. Records checks revealed the subject had an extensive criminal history and was previously removed from the United States.

Laredo Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Honduras near Laredo, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject was
previously deported from the United States, and had an extensive criminal history. The subject was also identified as a member of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang.

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Hidalgo, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Valluco prison gang and records checks revealed that he was previously deported from the United States.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents seized 1,312 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,049,456 and a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche in Why, Arizona. Agents found the vehicle abandoned, and a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed the marijuana.

Reported on October 31, 2008

Laredo Sector – A Border Patrol agent fired his weapon at the unidentified driver of a Ford Mustang near Laredo, Texas. The agent was attempting to arrest ten suspected illegal aliens who were running towards the Mustang and another vehicle near the Rio Grande River. The driver of the Mustang struck the agent with the vehicle, then repositioned the vehicle and attempted to run over the agent a second time. The agent then fired several shots from his handgun at the driver of the Mustang. As the driver fled the scene, the Mustang struck and damaged a Border Patrol vehicle. The Mustang was located near a local residence, and the driver was seen absconding toward the Rio Grande River.

New Orleans Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near New Orleans, Louisiana. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Guatemala near Arivaca, Arizona. At the time of her arrest, the subject told agents that she had injured her leg, could not keep up with the group she was traveling with, and was separated from her minor daughter. The illegal alien claimed that the smuggler refused to leave her daughter behind with her. Border Patrol agents initiated a search and located the missing child. The child was reunited with her mother.

Reported on November 1, 2008

Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,022 pounds of marijuana valued at $817,600, a Kenworth tractor-trailer, and arrested a United States Citizen (USC) at a traffic checkpoint near Laredo, Texas. The driver presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A subsequent inspection of the trailer revealed the narcotics inside of the trailer.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents observed a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban being loaded with suspected bundles of narcotics near the Rio Grande River in Brownsville, Texas. Once the bundles were loaded, the vehicle traveled away from the river. Upon seeing the agents, the driver of the vehicle turned around and drove the vehicle into the river. The driver was seen wading across the river into Mexico. When the Suburban was extracted from the river, agents found 1,432 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,146,280 inside the vehicle.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 3,148 pounds of marijuana valued at $2,518,400 near Escobares, Texas. Agents observed an unidentified subject attempting to conceal himself in the brush near the entrance to a local ranch. As the agents approached the subject, he absconded into the ranch and the agents followed. During their search for the subject, the agents found several bundles of marijuana in plain view inside an open barn on the property.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 191 pounds of marijuana valued at $152,800, a 2003 Ford truck, and arrested a USC near Pearce, Arizona. Agents responded to a report of two unidentified subjects loading bundles of narcotics into a vehicle. When the driver observed the agents, she pulled over, and her male companion fled. Agents then discovered the narcotics in the bed of the truck.

Reported on November 2, 2008

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,101 pounds of marijuana valued at $880,800 and a 2003 Ford F-150 in Granjeno, Texas. Agents observed a Nissan Titan and the F-150 travel away from the Rio Grande River at a high rate of speed. Agents followed the Titan and other law enforcement officers followed the F-150. After several tire blowouts, the driver of the F-150 absconded on foot and the marijuana was discovered inside the truck. Border Patrol agents maintained visual contact of the Titan and saw it drive into the Rio Grande River and the occupants retreat into Mexico. Unidentified subjects in a raft recovered bundles of suspected narcotics which floated out of the Titan, and returned with the bundles to Mexico. When the Titan was recovered, an additional 672 pounds of marijuana valued at $537,440 was seized.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,501 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,200,800 and a 1996 Chevrolet 2500 truck in La Rosita, Texas. Agents observed the vehicle being loaded with suspected bundles of marijuana near the Rio Grande River. Upon seeing the agents, the driver of the vehicle absconded into the brush and agents found the marijuana inside the cab and bed of the truck.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents responded to a report of a possible tunnel approximately 100 yards west of the Nogales, Arizona Port of Entry. The tunnel exit is north of the international border and within five feet of a previously discovered tunnel that was recently sealed off.

Reported on November 3, 2008

El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested 18 illegal aliens who entered the United States near Sunland Park, New Mexico, during a religious service held at the international border. The subjects used the cover of the religious ritual involving several hundred parishioners on both sides of the border to enter the United States illegally.

Marfa Sector – A Border Patrol agent arrested a native of Pakistan in Midland, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject had an outstanding arrest warrant issued in Navarro County, Texas.

Reported on November 4, 2008

El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Calexico, California. Records checks indicated that the subject was previously convicted for continuous sexual abuse of a minor.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador at the Falfurrias, Texas traffic checkpoint. During processing, the subject claimed she was raped by an unidentified assailant at a hotel in Edinburg, Texas and was subsequently held hostage as a maid for approximately one month, prior to her arrest. The subject, who claimed to be pregnant, was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,473 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,178,400, a 2000 Freightliner tractor-trailer, and arrested a Mexican national at the Falfurrias, Texas traffic checkpoint. A Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer and a subsequent search revealed 59 bundles of marijuana.

Tucson Sector – A Border Patrol agent rescued an illegal alien from Guatemala in Sonoita, Arizona. The agent, a certified Border Patrol Emergency Medical Technician, encountered the subject while attempting to apprehend illegal aliens. The agent evaluated the illegal alien and determined that he had head injuries and possible spine and neck injuries resulting from a fall. The subject was airlifted to a local hospital for treatment.

Reported on November 5, 2008

Del Rio Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Honduras near El Indio, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject was a member of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang and he had an active warrant of arrest for conspiracy issued in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents rescued an illegal alien from Mexico near Brownsville, Texas. The subject was extracted from the Rio Grande River and transported to the U.S. side where agents performed first aid until emergency medical services arrived. The subject was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Swanton Sector – Border Patrol agents observed two subjects illegally enter the United States near Pittsburg, New Hampshire. Both subjects were carrying large duffle bags. Agents arrested one subject, an illegal alien from Canada, and seized 120 pounds of hydroponic marijuana valued at $480,000. The second subject was able to abscond and was not located.

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