Border Patrol Update

May 31, 2010 9:26 PM
FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Yuma Border Update is published weekly by the Yuma Sector Public Affairs Office, to update residents of significant Border Patrol, Office of Air and Marine and Office of Field Operations' activities.

Significant activities and seizures for the week of May 24:

Parked car — Border Patrol agents became suspicious of a car that had been parked for several days near the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz. After a canine team responded and alerted to the vehicle, members of the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force served a search warrant on the car and found eight packages of marijuana weighing 10.8 pounds. Authorities believe the packages were prepared for body carriers.

Southbound arrests — CBP officers monitoring southbound traffic into Mexico at the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz., on separate occasions intercepted two men attempting to leave the United States. Officers determined the men to be multiple immigrations offenders, including deportation violations for both men. They were arrested and held for prosecution.

Human smuggler arrested — Border Patrol agents arrested two illegal aliens on the streets of San Luis, Ariz. Upon questioning, one man admitted that he had been paid $1,800 to escort a group of 22 persons from Mexico across the desert to Interstate 8; a trip he said took five nights. The group he escorted was picked by vehicles on the interstate and taken to Phoenix, according to the man. The $1,800 was seized.

Concealed drugs — CBP officers at the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz., intercepted two vehicles on the same day with nearly 129 pounds of marijuana concealed in hidden compartments within the vehicles. In the first, a narcotics detection dog alerted to the dashboard area, where 32 packages of the drug were located. In the second, an NDD alerted to the rear cargo area where officers found 23 packages of marijuana. The drivers were arrested and their cars were seized.

Shuttle van arrest — Border Patrol agents arrested 11 of 12 passengers in a public transport shuttle van. Each of the 11 illegal aliens was returning to Mexico after living and working in the Phoenix area.

Double play — CBP officers at the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz., arrested two men attempting to smuggle marijuana into the United States in separate vehicles within hours of each other. The first smuggler had 27.3 pounds of marijuana in 25 packages concealed in a non-factory compartment near the dashboard of the car. The second had almost 94 pounds of marijuana in 40 packages hidden in four locations, including the gas tank of the vehicle.

Agent assaulted — A Border Patrol agent was assaulted by a man fleeing from a Yuma police officer. The agent was responding to a call for assistance from the officer and arrived on the scene to find the assailant running in his direction. The agent was struck in the face by the man as he attempted to stop him. The agent took the man to the ground, but because he continued to resist, YPD officers used a Taser device to subdue him.

Marijuana seized — Border Patrol agents seized 219 pounds of marijuana and arrested a man attempting to flee into Mexico near County 10th Street and the Colorado River. Four of the man's companions were successful in returning to the border.

Ultralight aircraft — The Office of Air and Marine Operations reported that an ultralight aircraft was observed traveling northeast through the Mohawk Mountains south of Wellton. CBP aircraft and U.S. Air Force F-16s located the ULA northwest of Ajo. The ultralight turned south and fled into Mexican airspace, apparently without dropping its load of contraband.

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