Border Patrol agents capture illegal alien and convicted felon, discover drug cache
Posted: 04/24/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT


LAS CRUCES — Border Patrol agents on Wednesday apprehended a previously deported 45-year-old man with a long criminal history who illegally entered the U.S. near Mount Cristo Rey, according to a news release.

The Mexican national, later identified as Julian Hernandez Bernal, was transported to the Santa Teresa Border Patrol station for processing late Wednesday night, said Ramiro Cordero, supervisory Border Patrol agent.

Record checks revealed the lengthy criminal history, including a 1991 rape conviction. Hernandez also is a previously deported felon, Cordero said.

Hernandez was remanded to the custody of the Otero County Detention Facility pending criminal prosecution for re-entry after deportation.

Border agents also seized nearly $50,000 in drug-contaminated currency and about 500 pounds of marijuana Wednesday in two separate incidents in southern New Mexico.

Agents assigned to the U.S. 70 checkpoint near Alamogordo seized more than $48,000 hidden in a vehicle being driven through the checkpoint Wednesday afternoon, Cordero said. The driver of the vehicle, whose name was not immediately available, was released pending further investigation.

A canine inspection of the vehicle, a dark gray Acura, produced a positive alert, and the vehicle and currency were later seized and turned over to the Border Enforcement Security Task Force in Las Cruces.

Eleven backpacks containing almost 500 pounds of marijuana were seized by agents in another incident in

a remote area southwest of Lordsburg about 7 p.m. Wednesday, Cordero said. The seizure netted the arrest of a contraband smuggler, whose name was not released.
The alleged smuggler, along with the marijuana, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration in Las Cruces for prosecution, according to Cordero.

"These latest seizures and arrests are prime examples of the impact being made on a regular basis by the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol," he said. "These enforcement efforts increase the quality of life in the communities that we serve while securing our nation's borders."



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