Border Patrol Weekly Blotter: July 23 - July 29

(07/29/2009)Border Patrol agents seized over 2,406 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,924,880, and 265.5 pounds of cocaine valued at $8,473,600. Agents also seized nearly 45 pounds of methamphetamine valued at $1,023,500. Agents arrested 10 criminal aliens and 7 gang members. There were 12 rocking incidents.

*This overview is compiled from incidents reported to 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 Border Patrol Headquarters.


Reported on July 23, 2009


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Honduras near Sarita, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the 18th Street gang. Records checks revealed he had been previously removed from the United States.


San Diego Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested a United States Citizen (USC) along with six illegal aliens near Otay Mesa, California. Records checks revealed the USC was a member of the 18th Street gang and had an active arrest warrant issued in the State of Washington.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Casa Grande, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for felony attempted murder and had been previously removed from the United States.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 150 pounds of marijuana valued at $119,720, a 1994 Ford, and arrested a national of Mexico at the traffic checkpoint near Nogales, Arizona. The subject presented himself for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle. A Z Backscatter X-ray revealed anomalies underneath the bed of the truck. A search yielded six bundles of marijuana.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador after assisting local law enforcement officers with a vehicle bail out near Huachuca City, Arizona. Record checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in the State of California and had been previously removed from the United States.


Reported on July 24, 2009


Miami Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Islamorada, Florida. Records checks revealed the subject had a criminal history to include a conviction for sexual assault on a minor in the State of Florida. He had also been previously removed from United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 220.8 pounds of cocaine valued at $7,065,600, $4,343 in U.S. currency, a .40 caliber Glock handgun with a loaded magazine, a 2009 Volvo tractor-trailer, and arrested two USCs at the traffic checkpoint near Sarita, Texas. Both subjects presented themselves and the tractor-trailer for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the tractor. Further inspection of the tractor revealed 91 bundles of cocaine and the loaded handgun concealed in the sleeper area.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested a USC and seized 790 pounds of marijuana valued at $ 632,000 near Santa Maria, Texas. As agents conducted a vehicle stop on a suspected smuggling vehicle, a second vehicle interfered by ramming the Border Patrol vehicle in the right front quarter panel. Agents arrested the USC driver of the second vehicle, and discovered the marijuana in the first vehicle. The driver of the first vehicle absconded and could not be located.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents observed an ultralight aircraft (ULA) about three miles west of Nogales, Arizona. With assistance from the Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations Center, agents continued to track the ULA to an area approximately three miles west of Rio Rico, Arizona. The ULA dropped packages at this location and agents found five bundles of marijuana weighing a total of 116 pounds valued at $93,160.


Reported on July 25, 2009


El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico at the Greyhound bus station in Indio, California. Records checks revealed the subject was a registered sex offender in the State of California, and had an extensive criminal history to include convictions for sex with a minor 3+ years younger and battery with serious bodily injury. He had also been previously removed from United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,350 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,080,000, a 2000 tractor-trailer, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Sarita, Texas. The subject presented himself for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search revealed 51 bundles of marijuana within the cargo.


San Diego Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 44.5 pounds of methamphetamine valued at $1,023,500, a Lincoln Navigator, and arrested a national of Mexico at the traffic checkpoint near Pine Valley, California. The subject presented himself for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle. A search revealed 21 containers of narcotics in a non-factory compartment under the rear seats.


Yuma Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 44.7 pounds of cocaine valued at $1,408,000, a 2000 GMC Jimmy, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Quartzite, Arizona. The subject presented himself for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle. A search revealed 18 bundles of cocaine hidden underneath the rear cargo.


Reported on July 26, 2009


Del Rio Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested a USC for alien smuggling near Carrizo Springs, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Mexican Mafia gang. Records checks revealed the subject had prior convictions for burglary and domestic violence.


Del Rio Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Eagle Pass, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Sureno 13 gang. Records checks revealed the subject had a criminal history and had been previously removed from the United States.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol Agents reported the incursion of two ultralight aircraft (ULA) near Nogales, Arizona. Agents observed the first ULA fly north, orbit, drop bundles, and fly south. Agents responded to the drop site and recovered 253 pounds of marijuana. A second ULA was sighted and observed dropping bundles before flying south. Agents responded to the second drop site and recovered 247 pounds of marijuana. Both ULAs were observed flying back into Mexican airspace.


Reported on July 27, 2009


San Diego Sector – Border Patrol agents reported that 10 unidentified subjects on the U.S. side of the international border assaulted them with rocks near Otay Mesa, California. As agents approached to arrest the subjects, the group fled into Mexico. Mexican authorities were notified, responded and took five individuals into custody.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico after performing a vehicle stop near Casa Grande, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had extensive criminal and immigration histories to include sexual assault, kidnapping and possession of marijuana. He had also been previously removed from United States.


Reported on July 28, 2009


Blaine Sector – Border Patrol agents seized .44 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,020, drug paraphernalia, and arrested an illegal alien from Canada near Blaine, Washington. Records checks revealed the subject had an extensive criminal history, including a conviction for attempted murder in Canada.


El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents rescued six illegal aliens near Ocotillo, California after a subject placed a 911 distress call to Mexican authorities. Mexican officials contacted the Border Patrol and agents initiated a search, assisted by CBP Air and Marine assets. The six subjects were located and taken into Border Patrol custody.


El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Lordsburg, New Mexico. Records checks revealed the subject had extensive criminal and immigration histories, to include a conviction for homicide/negligent manslaughter in the State of Minnesota, and had been previously removed from the United States.


Reported on July 29, 2009


Del Rio Sector – Border Patrol agents rescued three illegal aliens who placed a 911 call near Carrizo Springs, Texas. Two aliens received medical treatment on the scene, and one was transported to a local hospital for treatment.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents rescued three illegal aliens after they placed a 911 distress call near Ajo, Arizona. Agents initiated a search and located the group. One of the subjects was deceased and the other three were airlifted to area hospitals for medical attention.

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