Border agents make unusual apprehensions in California, Arizona

Mon, 2011-12-19 10:22 AM By: Mark Rockwell


Drug laden go-kart
The week of Dec. 12 was a busy one for U.S. border agents in the Southwest.
Within two days, border agents stopped a most-wanted fugitive trying to re-enter the country through the Los Angeles airport and seized go-kart loaded with marijuana in the Arizona desert.

CBP said its officers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), caught Richard James Kim planeside as he arrived from Korea on Dec. 15. Kim is wanted for attempted murder in the city. The agency also said officers in its Yuma, AZ, sector seized a go-kart loaded with almost 100 pounds of marijuana the night of Dec. 14.

At LAX, CBP officers’ search of law enforcement databases turned up Kim’s name, said the agency. The 33-year-old U.S. citizen had an arrest warrant for attempted murder by Los Angeles Police Department. CBP officers confirmed the warrant and he was placed under arrest and turned over to the LAPD.

LAPD’s most wanted list describes the suspect as armed and dangerous. He has been wanted for the past 12 years (since he was age 21). According to the most-wanted list, Kim and two juvenile accomplices -- who are both in custody -- got into an argument with two male victims over gang affiliation. Allegedly, Kim shot the victims with a .38 caliber handgun.

The day before, Border Patrol agents in Yuma seized a go-kart loaded with about 91 pounds of marijuana and arrested a suspected smuggler.

The agents were conducting line-watch patrol duties when they found tire tracks crossing the international border with Mexico. They followed the tracks, located the drug-laden go-kart and the driver and arrested him

The go-kart, driver and marijuana, which the agency valued at $45,940, were turned over to the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force.

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/25275?c=border_security