Border Patrol Agents seize nearly $500,000 in narcotics over weekend

(2:20 p.m.)Sun-News report
Posted: 11/09/2009 02:19:33 PM MST


LAS CRUCES - Border Patrol Agents in Fort Hancock seized 600 pounds of marijuana and also apprehended one man with an extensive criminal history over the weekend.

Friday, agents assigned to the Fort Hancock Station were performing line watch operations and utilizing mobile camera units when they observed two individuals entering the United States illegally.

Agents apprehended the subjects who were transporting 218 pounds of marijuana, valued at $170,752.00. This seizure was followed by another attempt by smugglers to transport 375 pounds of contraband near the township of Fort Hancock. In that instance, a Ford F-150 was observed at the international border. Agents conducting surveillance, observed a white Ford F-150 drive towards the Rio Grande approximately 10.6 miles east of the Fort Hancock Port Of Entry.

Agents then noticed the same F-150 leave the area at a high rate of speed. Agents proceeded to conduct an immigration stop on the vehicle. A K-9 unit was requested to conduct an inspection of the vehicle and it alerted to the toolbox in the bed of the truck. Additional inspection revealed the narcotics valued at more than $300,256.00.In each case, the contraband, subjects, and the vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency pending prosecution.

Sunday, agents assigned to Fort Hancock were conducting border security operations when they came across footprints that led from the Rio Grande, approximately four miles east of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry. Agents used tracking skills to follow the subject as he made his way toward Interstate 10. The man was soon apprehended and transported to the station for processing and identification. It was discovered that the individual, identified as Edgar Adrian Bonilla-Bonilla of Mexico, had an extensive criminal history in the United States including "Possession of Marijuana, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Criminal Mischief, Burglary of Habitation, Theft, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, Driving while Intoxicated, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Burglary of Building, and Burglary of Vehicle". The subject will be processed for removal proceedings.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_13748301