Agents Recover 5 Stolen Vehicles During Outbound Enforcement

C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers, Border Patrol Agents Recover Five Stolen Vehicles During Outbound Enforcement Operations

Four Mexican and Two U.S. Citizens Arrested

(Wednesday, May 19, 2010)

Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and Border Patrol agents working outbound enforcement operations at the Brownsville port of entry southbound lanes recovered five stolen vehicles and arrested four Mexican and two U.S. citizens.

The first of the five stolen vehicle recoveries occurred at Gateway International Bridge in the early morning hours of May 1, when CBP officers and Border Patrol agents came in contact with a blue southbound 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche as it attempted to exit the U.S. to enter Mexico. After a routine examination, the vehicle, driver and a male passenger were referred to secondary for an intensive examination.

The driver, identified as a 27-year-old Mexican citizen and resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico and his passenger, a male identified as a 24-year-old Mexican citizen from San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico both were arrested and placed in a holding cell after an intensified examination of the Avalanche revealed a stolen vehicle status from the Brownsville, Texas area.

Both males were turned over to the Brownsville Police Department, and the vehicle was returned to its registered owner.

The second case took place late afternoon on May 7, at Gateway International Bridge when CBP officers encountered a maroon 2003 Mercedes Benz driven southbound by a 23-year-old male identified as a Mexican citizen from Campo Verde, Coahuila, Mexico. CBP officers stopped the Mercedes; checks of a CBP database revealed the Mercedes Benz had been reported stolen. CBP officers arrested the driver and subsequently turned him and the vehicle over to the custody of the Cameron County Sherriff’s Office.

In a third case, occurring on May 10, CBP officers approached a red 2005 Chevrolet Aveo being driven by a male identified as a 39-year-old U.S. citizen from Albertville, Ala. as he attempted to exit the U.S. and enter Mexico. CBP officers’ interview of the driver resulted in the discovery that the Chevrolet had been stolen from South Padre Island, Texas. CBP officers arrested the driver, and both vehicle and driver were turned over to the Cameron County Constable’s Office.

The next vehicle recovery happened at the Gateway International Bridge on May 11, when CBP officers and Border Patrol agents working outbound enforcement operations came in contact with a male driving a gray 2006 Nissan Maxima. CBP officers and Border Patrol agents referred the Nissan to CBP secondary for further inspection.

At secondary inspection, CBP officers and Border Patrol agents determined that the driver, identified as a 20-year-old citizen of Mexico and resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico was in fact in possession of a vehicle reported stolen from the San Benito Police Department. CBP officers and Border Patrol agents arrested the driver who was then turned over to the custody of the San Benito Police Department along with the stolen Nissan Maxima.

The fifth stolen vehicle recovery by Brownsville CBP took place mid-morning on May 18, at Gateway International Bridge. CBP officers and Border Patrol agents stopped a 2005 silver Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a 17-year-old U.S. citizen from Houston, Texas as the driver attempted to exit the U.S. to enter Mexico. A secondary examination of the driver and the Tahoe resulted in the discovery that the vehicle had been stolen from Houston, Texas. The Chevrolet Tahoe was seized by CBP officers and Border Patrol agents working the case and turned over to the Cameron County Sherriff’s Office.

The drivers in all five cases will face state auto theft charges.

“Brownsville’s CBP team working southbound intercepted these stolen vehicles and arrested the drivers. This is a result of the continued training our CBP officers and Border Patrol agents receive and an excellent utilization of our best asset, our CBP officers and agents,â€