U.S. Border Patrol Weekly Blotter: August 14 – August 20

(08/20/2008)Border Patrol agents seized over 8,203 pounds of marijuana valued at $6,562,471. Agents arrested 9 criminal aliens and 9 gang members. There were 13 rocking incidents and 1 shooting incident.
*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 August 14, 2008

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol Agents arrested a United States Citizen (USC) and seized 3,275 pounds of marijuana valued at $2,620,000 and 2007 Kenworth tractor-trailer at the checkpoint in Falfurrias, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A subsequent search revealed the marijuana concealed within the cargo of the trailer.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested a USC and seized 1,084 pounds of marijuana valued at $866,880 and a 1986 Dodge Van near Douglas, Arizona. Agents observed the vehicle stop and the driver and passenger abscond into the desert. The driver of the vehicle was not found, but the passenger was located in the nearby brush.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents rescued and arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Bisbee, Arizona. Agents received information from five subjects in custody that a female subject had been left behind by the group and was in distress. Agents located the female subject and contacted local emergency medical services (EMS). EMS responded and had the subject airlifted to a local hospital for treatment.

Reported on August 15, 2008

El Paso Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested two illegal aliens from Mexico, seized 1,048 pounds of marijuana valued at $838,743, and recovered a stolen 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, following a vehicle stop.

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents rescued and arrested 16 illegal aliens south of Falfurrias, Texas. Members of the group stated they had been walking through the brush for several days and were in distress due to the extreme temperatures. Eight subjects were transported to various local hospitals for heat-related medical treatment.

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested a USC suspected of alien smuggling near Sarita, Texas. The subject had an active arrest warrant and was associated with the Mexican Mafia gang.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents seized 1,420 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,136,128 and an abandoned 2000 Chevrolet Suburban on the Tohono O'Odham Indian Nation Reservation near Guvo, Arizona. The marijuana was discovered in the abandoned vehicle.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Eloy, Arizona who had an extensive criminal history and was a member of the 18th Street gang.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador in Sells, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the U.S., was a convicted sex offender, and had an active arrest warrant from Norwalk, California for sexual assault.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Naco, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had criminal convictions for attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

Reported on August 16, 2008

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents rescued an unidentified subject in distress near Sarita, Texas. The unidentified subject appeared to be suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion and was air-lifted to a local hospital for treatment.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested a USC, seized 185 pounds of marijuana valued at $147,920, a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, and a 1991 Chevrolet Silverado near Ajo, Arizona. The subject was taken to a local hospital after claiming he swallowed three to five grams of methamphetamine prior to his arrest.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents seized 1,188 pounds of marijuana valued at $950,320 near Cocklebur, Arizona. The marijuana was found in and around an abandoned 2000 GMC Yukon.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Guatemala near Nogales, Arizona who had been convicted of annoying/molesting children in Auburn, California.

Reported on August 17, 2008

Detroit Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico in Marquette, Michigan. The subject was a member of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang.

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested two USC’s and seized three pounds of marijuana valued at $2,480 at the checkpoint in Sarita, Texas. A search of the subject’s vehicle revealed two unloaded 9mm semiautomatic handguns, four loaded magazines, and two loose 9mm rounds hidden in the passenger-side rear speaker.

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Armstrong, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the U.S. and was a member of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang.

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Hidalgo, Texas who was a member of the Mexican Mafia gang.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Tucson, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior arrest for child molestation and was a registered sex offender.

Reported on August 18, 2008

Del Rio Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Brackettville, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject was previously deported from the U.S., had an extensive criminal history, and was a member of the 18th Street gang.

Laredo Sector - Border Patrol agents reported that several unidentified subjects on the U.S. side of the river threw rocks at agents in Laredo, Texas. Agents were attempting to arrest the subjects when one of them threatened the agents with a rock. An agent deployed his Border Patrol issued Pepperball Launching System (PLS) to stop the threat, making kinetic impact with the subject. The other subjects began throwing rocks and the agent deployed his PLS a second time, making kinetic impact with a second subject. All of the subjects retreated into Mexico without further incident.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents reported finding two weapons in a field near Sasabe, Arizona. Agents observed two subjects fleeing on foot, and discovered two 9mm pistols, an old flak vest, food, and water lying where the two subjects had been spotted.

Reported on August 19, 2008

Grand Forks Sector - Border Patrol agents rescued a Canadian National south of Birchdale, Minnesota. Agents received a citizen’s report stating a person was disoriented and lost in the local area. Agents initiated a search and found the subject on a snowmobile trail with injuries to his feet. The agents rendered first aid and arranged to have the subject transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

San Diego Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Tecate, California. Records checks revealed the subject had an active felony warrant of arrest for homicide in Los Angeles, California.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Sacaton, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the U.S. as an aggravated felon for a conviction of sexual assault of a minor.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Bisbee, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the U.S. on three separate occasions and was convicted of lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16 in Twin Falls County, Idaho.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents and local law enforcement officers working together near Three Points, Arizona were fired upon by unidentified subjects. The agents and officers were approaching an abandoned house when they received automatic weapons fire from an adjacent property. A search warrant for the adjacent property was obtained and executed, resulting in the arrest of one USC, one Mexican national, and three illegal aliens from Mexico, as well as the seizure of twelve firearms. Agents and officers followed footprints found behind the residence and recovered156 pounds of marijuana valued at $124,800. The suspects, weapons, and marijuana were taken into custody by local law enforcement officers.

Reported on August 20, 2008

El Paso Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico in El Paso, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the U.S. and was a member of the Barrio Azteca gang.

Rio Grande Valley Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Sarita, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the U.S. and was a member of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang.

Tucson Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Naco, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the U.S. and was a convicted sex offender in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Yuma Sector - Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Yuma, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject was previously removed from the U.S. and had an extensive criminal history to include arrests for murder, attempted murder and possession of stolen property. The subject admitted to being a member of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang.

http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/ ... 4_0820.xml