Border Patrol seizes pot, nabs sex offender
Sun-News report
Posted: 10/21/2010 01:11:40 AM MDT

LAS CRUCES - U.S. Border Patrol agents on Tuesday seized $188,368 worth of marijuana and arrested a sex offender who was in the country illegally.

Agents at the Santa Teresa station followed fresh footprints spotted near the international border and found a person allegedly trying to hide in the brush, according to a news release. The suspect admitted to be a resident of Mexico, authorities said.

Antonio Flores-Malerva, 55, was found to be a registered sex offender with an extensive criminal history.

Flores was removed from the United States and sent back to Mexico on two previous occasions, the press release stated. Flores-Malerva was being detained pending prosecution for re-entry after removal.

Earlier that same day, agents on patrol observed three people carrying large backpacks north of New Mexico Highway 9. As agents watched, a gold Chevrolet Malibu quickly stopped and occupants appeared to load the backpacks into the vehicle before continuing eastbound along the highway, according to authorities. Agents stopped the car, which resulted in the seizure of 10 bundles totaling 235.46 pounds of marijuana. The driver and the drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration pending criminal prosecution.


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