Thread: TX: Border Patrol seizes 1,300 pounds of pot

Border Patrol seizes 1,300 pounds of pot
Times staff report
El Paso Times
Article Launched:04/06/2007 03:27:54 PM MDT

FORT HANCOCK, Texas -- CBP Border Patrol agents prevented the smuggling of over 1,380 pounds of marijuana valued at $1.1 million and apprehended a suspected drug smuggler near a back drain along the Rio Grande on Thursday evening.
At 6 p.m. on Thursday, a Border Patrol agent observed a Ford Explorer traveling west on Interstate 10, 13 miles east of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry. The agent approached the vehicle when the driver, a 24-year-old male Mexican National, made a U-turn and turned east on I-10. The agent attempted to conduct an immigration stop on the vehicle.

In an effort to evade the Border Patrol agent, the driver of the truck exited at the FM-2217 exit and proceeded to travel south. The Border Patrol agent notified an agent in the direction of the now fleeing suspect, who deployed a tire-deflation device in an attempt to stop the oncoming vehicle. The vehicle continued south toward the Rio Grande with two flat tires. Agents followed tracks of the vehicle which led to a back drain near the Rio Grande. Agents encountered the suspects vehicle stuck in a cotton field. In a final attempt to avoid apprehension, the driver of the abandoned vehicle fled on foot toward Mexico. The agents gave chase and apprehended the driver.

A CBP Border Patrol canine unit at the scene conducted an exterior canine sniff of the vehicle and alerted on the vehicle. In a subsequent search, agents discovered a total of 49 bundles of marijuana concealed inside the vehicle.

The narcotics, vehicle and driver were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for disposition.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/breakingnews/ci_5610655

Unfortunately Fort Hancock is in the West Texas District, under the jurisdiction of the undistinguished US Attorney Johnny Sutton. Any bets on whether this smuggler will be prosecuted?

Originally Posted by legal4mykidsfuture

Unfortunately Fort Hancock is in the West Texas District, under the jurisdiction of the undistinguished US Attorney Johnny Sutton. Any bets on whether this smuggler will be prosecuted?

Slim and none.

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