Thread: ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Sept. 27, 2013

I.C.E. News Release

September 27, 2013
Washington, DC

ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Sept. 27, 2013


Sept. 27, 2013 – ICE special agent promoted to brigadier general in Army reserve U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent, and Army reservist, Norman B. Green, was recently promoted to brigadier general at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Green, who has been with ICE since 2007, is also the commanding general of 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, based in San Antonio, Texas. Full Story

Sept. 26, 2013 – HSI arrests 43 on bank fraud, identity theft, drug trafficking charges

Forty-three individuals were arrested Sept. 24 for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and drug trafficking. The investigation that led to the arrests was conducted by HSI and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice. Full Story

Sept. 25, 2013 – NJ leaders of violent international street gang indicted for racketeering conspiracy

Three former leaders of a New Jersey branch of the violent international street gang La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, were charged Sept. 25 with racketeering and murder. Full Story

Sept. 27, 2013 – HSI, Diplomatic Security Service arrest honor killing suspect in Brooklyn

A Brooklyn man was arraigned Sept. 25 on a superseding indictment charging him with conspiring to commit murder in a foreign county, transmitting threats via interstate communications and visa fraud. The investigation was conducted by HSI and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Full Story

Sept. 24, 2013 – Houston-based Pakistani man arrested and charged with trafficking counterfeit pharmaceuticals

A Pakistani man residing in Houston was arrested Sept. 24 following the return of a seven-count indictment involving counterfeit Viagra and Cialis products, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. This joint investigation is being conducted by HSI and the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations. Full Story

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit
www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1309/130927washingtondc2.htm

News for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

U.S. Border Patrol Weekly Blotter, Blaine Sector September 12-25, 2013
09/30/2013 01:02 PM EDT
Blaine, Wash. - The information listed below is from arrests and seizures related to the U.S. Border Patrol in the Blaine Sector area of operations. For security reasons, this may not be a complete list of enforcement actions.09/12/2013 - While patrolling the border, agents discovered three people hiding near an abandoned trailer in close proximity to the U. (more)

CBP P-3 Aircraft Disrupts Attempt to Smuggle 3,000 Pounds of Marijuana in the Caribbean
09/30/2013 01:02 PM EDT
Jacksonville, Fla. - A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Air and Marine (OAM) P-3 crew assisted Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATFS) in detecting and disrupting an attempt to smuggle approximately 3,000 pounds of suspected marijuana Sunday in the western Caribbean Sea. (more)

Border Patrol Seizes $1.5 Million Dope Load
09/30/2013 01:02 PM EDT
Tucson, Ariz. - Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents seized a highly modified drug smuggling vehicle loaded with 1,933 pounds of marijuana in the desert west of Tucson. Just after 2 a.m. Friday morning, agents in the Ajo area responded to possible smuggling activity. (more)

Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize $350,000 in Heroin at Brownsville Port of Entry
09/30/2013 01:02 PM EDT
Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Gateway International Bridge seized three and a half pounds of alleged heroin in a northbound alleged smuggling attempt. CBP officers discovered alleged heroin valued at approximately $350,000 hidden within canned food items. (more)

Border Patrol Seize 32 Pounds of Cocaine at Checkpoint
09/30/2013 01:02 PM EDT
Laredo, Texas - On September 24, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate Highway 35 encountered a vehicle from Mexico at the primary inspection lane. As the driver was being questioned by the Border Patrol agent as to his immigration status, a service canine alerted to the car, subsequently the agent referred the driver to secondary for further inspection. (more)

CBP Seizes 54 Pounds of Cocaine Inside Container
09/30/2013 01:02 PM EDT
San Juan, Puerto Rico - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized Thursday 54 pounds (24.35 kilos) of cocaine inside a container at the San Juan seaport.During the inspection of containers arriving on board the maritime vessel Maersk Wismar a container was selected for secondary scrutiny. (more)

CBP Seizes 318 Pounds of Marijuana at El Paso Port of Entry
09/30/2013 01:02 PM EDT
El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized 318 pounds of marijuana in three incidents Thursday. The seized drugs have an estimated street value of $254,400."All three of the seizures were made at the Ysleta crossing and all involved female suspects," said CBP El Paso Port Director Hector Mancha. (more)

CBP Backs DHS Operation Caribbean Resilience
09/30/2013 01:02 PM EDT
San Juan, Puerto Rico - A general assessment by various law enforcement authorities is that Puerto Rico is a primary Caribbean drug transshipment point from South America to the U.S. mainland. In direct response to the threat of criminal organizations, related violence, and its impact on the quality of life for those residing in Puerto Rico, and in response to recommendations contained in the President's Report on Puerto Rico's Status, U. (more)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Brownsville Port of Entry Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month
09/30/2013 01:02 PM EDT
Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Brownsville Port of Entry celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month with Brownsville Independent School District Board Member Minerva Pena serving as the keynote speaker. Minerva Pena, a native of Brownsville, Texas is a member of the Board at the Brownsville Independent School District. (more)

Four Smugglers, Three Attempts, One Day
09/30/2013 01:02 PM EDT
Tucson, Ariz. - Three smuggling attempts were thwarted Tuesday by Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents manning checkpoints in southern Arizona. The first smuggling attempt was stopped at the I-19 checkpoint north of Tubac after a Border Patrol canine alerted to possible contraband in a 2013 Cadillac XTS. (more)