U.S. BORDER PATROL Weekly Blotter:(03/23/2011)

Border Patrol agents seized over 15,055 pounds of marijuana, 160.44 pounds of cocaine and 5.4 pounds of heroin. Agents arrested 13 criminal aliens and 10 gang members. There were seven 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 March 17, 2011


El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Calexico, California. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for indecent exposure and was registered as a sex offender in the state of California. The subject had been previously removed from the United States.


El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents assigned to the Calexico, California Station arrested a United States Citizen (USC) for possession of a loaded firearm and marijuana at the traffic checkpoint near Winterhaven, California. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for homicide.


Marfa Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Alpine, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject was a convicted sex offender in the state of Florida and had been previously removed from the United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Penitas, Texas. During processing, the subject was identified as a member of the 18th Street gang. Records checks revealed he had been previously removed from the United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,198 pounds of marijuana and a Ford pickup truck near Rio Grande City, Texas. Agents observed several subjects loading bundles of suspected narcotics into a vehicle. When agents approached, the driver fled, eventually abandoning the truck and absconding. A search of the vehicle revealed the marijuana.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,296 pounds of marijuana and a Ford truck near La Casita, Texas. Agents observed several subjects loading bundles of suspected narcotics into a vehicle near the Rio Grande River. When agents approached, the subjects absconded into the brush. A search of the truck revealed the marijuana.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized ten assault-style rifles, one grenade launcher, two grenades, and 356 rounds of ammunition near Fronton, Texas. Agents discovered the abandoned cache of weapons and ammunition concealed in the brush along the edge of the Rio Grande River.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents discovered a tunnel and seized 1,068 pounds of marijuana in downtown Nogales, Arizona.


Reported on March 18, 2011


El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Calexico, California. During processing, the subject was identified as a member of the 18th Street gang. Records checks revealed the subject had an extensive criminal history and had been previously removed from the United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 2,663 pounds of marijuana, a tractor-trailer, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas. A Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle and an inspection using non-intrusive inspection technology revealed anomalies within the trailer. A subsequent search by agents uncovered the marijuana.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 3,668 pounds of marijuana, a tractor-trailer, and arrested a national of Mexico at the traffic checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas. A Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle and a subsequent search uncovered the marijuana.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized five pounds of marijuana, two pickup trucks, seven assault-style rifles, two pistols, magazines, ammunition, and arrested three USCs near Newfield, Arizona.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized a .45 caliber handgun, 29 rounds of ammunition and recovered a stolen .40 caliber handgun near Three Points, AZ. A Border Patrol canine alerted near a brushy area and a search revealed the weapons. Both weapons were loaded and had rounds in the chamber.


Reported on March 19, 2011


Buffalo Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Nicaragua in Depew, New York. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Sureño gang. Records checks revealed the subject had an extensive criminal history including felony convictions.


El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Guatemala near Albuquerque, New Mexico. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) gang. Records checks revealed the subject had an extensive criminal history and had been previously removed from the United States.


El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Animas, New Mexico. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the MS-13 gang. Records checks revealed the subject had an extensive criminal history, including narcotics-related convictions, and had been previously removed from the United States.


El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Records checks revealed the subject was a sex offender in the state of California and had been previously removed from the United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,133 pounds of marijuana, a Plymouth van, and arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Alamo, Texas. Agents observed several subjects loading bundles of suspected narcotics into the van and subsequently initiated a vehicle stop. Agents discovered the marijuana inside the vehicle.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Guatemala near Topawa, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had an active warrant of arrest for child pornography issued in the state of Virginia.


Reported on March 20, 2011


El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 526 pounds of marijuana and a Dodge truck along the Rio Grande River near Fort Hancock, Texas. Agents attempted to intercept the truck when the driver returned to the river and absconded into Mexico. Agents recovered the marijuana from inside the truck.


Marfa Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 160 pounds of cocaine, 44 pounds of marijuana, 25 pounds of cough syrup with codeine, a loaded pistol, a tractor-trailer, $156,974 in U.S. currency, and arrested two USCs at the traffic checkpoint near Sierra Blanca, Texas. A Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle and a subsequent search by agents uncovered the contraband.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Hidalgo, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior felony conviction for enticing a child with intent and an active warrant of arrest issued in the state of Texas.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Willcox, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for communicating with a child for immoral purposes in the state of Washington and had been previously removed from the United States.


Reported on March 21, 2011


El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents rescued and arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near El Paso, Texas. Agents encountered the subject struggling to stay afloat in a canal and utilized a life vest and throw rope to rescue him. The subject was transported to a local hospital for treatment, and then released into Border Patrol custody.


Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Laredo, Texas. During processing, the subject was identified as a member of the MS-13 gang. Records checks revealed the subject had an extensive criminal history, including prior convictions for theft and burglary. The subject had also been previously removed from the United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Mission, Texas. During processing, the subject was identified as a member of the MS-13 gang. Records checks revealed the subject had been previously removed from the United States.


Reported on March 22, 2011


El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Niland, California. Records checks revealed the subject had an active warrant of arrest for attempted murder with special allegations issued in the state of California.


Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico in Gardendale, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior felony conviction for sexual assault of a child in the state of Washington, and had been previously removed from the United States.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Sells, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for rape of spouse by force/fear in the state of California, and had been previously removed from the United States.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 664 pounds of marijuana, three AK-47 rifles, 92 rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition and recovered a stolen Chevrolet truck near Arizona City, Arizona. When agents encountered and approached the vehicle, the occupants abandoned the truck and fled into the desert. The contraband was found in the vehicle.


Reported on March 23, 2011


Del Rio Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Del Rio, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject had an active warrant of arrest for aggravated sexual assault of a child issued in the state of Texas.


El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 5.4 pounds of heroin and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Indio, California. The heroin was found attached to the subject’s legs and concealed underneath their pant legs.


Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Laredo, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for sexual assault in the state of Missouri, and had been previously removed from the United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 2,810 pounds of marijuana and a pickup truck near Fronton, Texas. Agents observed the vehicle traveling north from the Rio Grande River. Upon seeing the agents, the driver returned to the river’s edge, abandoned the vehicle, and absconded. The marijuana was found in the truck.

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