Man accused in scheme to place drugs in border commuters' vehicles

By Diana Washington Valdez/El Paso Times
Posted: 07/06/2011 01:20:45 PM MDT

A man accused of working with others to place drugs in the vehicles of unsuspecting border commuters will have a detention hearing Thursday in U.S. District Judge Norbert Garney's court, according to court documents.
In a lengthy U.S. criminal complaint, the FBI outlined how Jesus Chavez and others carried out the scheme that targeted innocent commuters in order cross drugs into the United States.

Juarez Mayor Hector Murguia said today that "It is lamentable that we see cases of this type in the justice system that involve innocent people, people who had drugs planted on them through no fault of their own," Murguia said.

"We have to guard against these kinds of things in Juárez, and it's a good thing that the authorities, in this case in the Unite States, discovered what these gangs were doing."

Murguia said the Juarez city government is launching a campaign to warn the public to avoid these situations by checking their belongings before crossing the border.

The detention of these people is a good step toward ending these criminal activities and "it is good news for Juárez that they were caught," Murguia said in a statement.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_18418313