CBP officers make 26 drug seizures, arrest 26 wanted fugitives this week

Posted: July 24, 2009 10:55 AM PDT

EL PASO -- Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at ports of entry in El Paso, west Texas and New Mexico made a total of 26 drug seizures this week, officials with the agency said.

Officers seized almost 1,700 pounds of pot in 22 seizures, 25 pounds of methamphetamines in a single seizure, and less than an ounce of cocaine and heroin in three additional busts, officials added.

In addition to the drug seizures, inspections at El Paso area ports of entry uncovered almost 150 violations ranging from agriculture seizures to immigration violations. Officers at the ports of entry also arrested 26 wanted fugitives.

Among those, was the arrest of 67-year-old Reymundo Holguin, who allegedly escaped from a detention facility in California in 2000. He was caught at the Paso del Norte crossing Tuesday.

Officers at the Columbus port of entry arrested 36-year-old Fernando Lopez Villegas as he entered the U.S. from Mexico Monday. Lopez Villegas was being sought by authorities in New MExico in connection with a murder investigation.

Officials say officers also recorded 98 immigration violations at area ports this week, including 27 "intended immigrant" cases. In these cases, officials say, individuals will use a legally-issued border-crossing card to live or work in the U.S. They add this not authorized and those caught lose their documents and are returned to Mexico.

CBP officers also stopped 47 alleged imposters through the thorough examination of documents. They say imposters use a legitimate entry document assigned to another person and present it as their own. Violators lose their documents and face possible criminal prosecution. Officers also detained 24 people who made false claims to U.S. citizenship, attempted to enter with counterfeit or altered documents.

By News/Web Producer Joe Villasana

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=10785527