U.S. Border Patrol Weekly Blotter: June 4 - June 10

(06/10/2009)Border Patrol agents seized over 20,916 pounds of marijuana valued at $16,732,048. Agents arrested 11 criminal aliens and 7 gang members. There were 5 rocking incidents.

*This overview is compiled from incidents reported to the Office of Border Patrol and is not intended to reflect all Border Patrol enforcement actions. Most arrests and seizures fail to meet the requirements for mandatory reporting to the Office of Border Patrol.

Reported on June 4, 2009

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized four semi-automatic .223 caliber rifles, four magazines, and one scope near Hidalgo, Texas. Agents observed a suspicious individual carrying a duffel bag near the Hidalgo, Texas Port of Entry. As agents converged, the individual
dropped the duffle bag and absconded to Mexico.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,657 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,325,600 near the Rio Grande River in Fronton, Texas. While conducting patrol duties, agents discovered 24 bundles of abandoned marijuana concealed in thick brush.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Cowlic, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for sexual penetration with a foreign object and was sentenced to 213 days in jail. The subject was also wanted by the State of California for probation violation.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,990 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,592,080, a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado, and a loaded .45 caliber pistol near Cocklebur, Arizona. Agents found an abandoned vehicle concealed in the brush, and a search revealed 105 bundles of marijuana and a handgun inside the vehicle.


Reported on June 5, 2009


Del Rio Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Eagle Pass, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being a Sureno 13 gang member. Records checks revealed he was previously charged with trespassing and had been removed from the United States.


El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Honduras near Deming, New Mexico. During processing, the subject admitted to being a Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang member. Records checks revealed he was previously removed from the United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near La Rosita, Texas. During his arrest, the subject became combative and was subsequently subdued after agents deployed less lethal munitions. During the arrest of the subject, an unidentified individual carrying a large stick approached in an attempt to assault the agents. Agents redeployed less lethal munitions and the individual absconded to Mexico.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized a 1999 GMC Suburban and arrested a United States Citizen (USC) and two illegal aliens from Mexico at the traffic checkpoint near Gila Bend, Arizona. The subject arrived at the checkpoint and during a search of her vehicle, the two illegal aliens were found concealed inside a false compartment.

Reported on June 6, 2009


Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,120 pounds of marijuana valued at $896,240, a 2000 Ford F-250, and arrested a USC near Zapata, Texas. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine assets observed the vehicle and followed it as the driver pulled over in a residential area. The driver attempted to flee, but was subsequently arrested by responding agents. The marijuana was found inside the truck.


Marfa Sector – Border Patrol agents responded to a request for assistance from local law enforcement officers, and subsequently arrested a USC near McCamey, Texas. Records checks revealed the subject had a federal warrant for high speed flight from an immigration checkpoint and assault on a federal agent.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 6,193 pounds of marijuana valued at $4,954,400, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer he was driving for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search revealed the marijuana inside the trailer.


Tucson Sector – An off-duty Border Patrol agent spotted a possible marijuana grow operation on a private residence near Whetstone, Arizona. On-duty agents, along with a multi-agency law enforcement task force, were notified and responded to the area. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the home, and discovered approximately 455 marijuana plants. A USC was also arrested.


Reported on June 7, 2009


El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico after rescuing him from a canal near Calexico, California. Records checks revealed the subject had a previous conviction for sexual intercourse with a minor.


El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Honduras near Deming, New Mexico. During processing, the subject was identified as a Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang member. Records checks revealed that he had an extensive criminal history and was previously removed from the United States.


El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near El Paso, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Sureno 13 gang. Records checks revealed he had an extensive criminal history and was previously removed from the United States.


Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 2,962 pounds of marijuana valued at $2,369,280, a 2000 Freightliner tractor-trailer, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Laredo, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search revealed the marijuana inside the tractor.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 2,454 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,963,200, a 2001 Freightliner tractor-trailer, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search revealed the bundles of marijuana mixed in a shipment of watermelons.


Reported on June 8, 2009


San Diego Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested 74 illegal aliens and seized a tractor-trailer at the traffic checkpoint near Pine Valley, California. The driver, an illegal alien from Mexico, presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search of the trailer revealed the aliens inside.


San Diego Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico and seized 25 pounds of marijuana valued at $19,920 near Imperial Beach, California. The subject was carrying a large duffle bag on a surfboard paddling north of the international border. When he was spotted by the U.S. Coast Guard, he abandoned the duffle bag but was apprehended by agents. Agents retrieved the duffle bag which contained five bundles of marijuana.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 466 pounds of marijuana valued at $372,928, a 1997 Dodge pickup, and a .380 caliber pistol near Gila Bend, Arizona. Agents had been following the pick up, but lost visual contact with the subject. When agents discovered the vehicle abandoned, they discovered the narcotics and the pistol.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Pearce, Arizona. During processing, the subject admitted to being a member of the Sureno 13 gang. Records checks revealed he had an extensive criminal record and was previously removed from the United States.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Tucson, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject was convicted of second degree felony sexual assault of a minor in the State of Florida.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Tucson, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject was convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under 14 and served three years in prison in the State of California. The subject was also previously removed from the United States.


Reported on June 9, 2009


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,470 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,175,600, a 1999 Freightliner tractor-trailer, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint in Falfurrias, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search of the trailer revealed the marijuana concealed inside cardboard boxes.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized a 2000 Ford Taurus, and arrested a USC and an illegal alien from Mexico at the traffic checkpoint near Sarita, Texas. The USC driver presented himself for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle. The illegal alien was discovered hidden inside a fake speaker box located in the trunk.


San Diego Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested nine illegal aliens from Mexico and seized a 2001 Chevrolet cargo van near Chula Vista, California. Agents observed a group of aliens enter the country illegally and load into the van. Agents followed the vehicle, which sustained a flat tire and subsequently came to a stop. The aliens were arrested without incident.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,226 pounds of marijuana valued at $980,400, a 2001 Ford F-350, and arrested two USCs near Sonoita, Arizona. The vehicle was observed illegally entering the United States. The vehicle was stopped by agents and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle. Agents discovered the marijuana in hidden compartments within the vehicle.


Reported on June 10, 2009


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,353 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,082,400 and a 2000 Ford Expedition near La Rosita, Texas. Agents were following the Expedition, due to the suspicious behavior of the driver, when the driver pulled the vehicle into a convenience store. He then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. A search revealed the marijuana inside the vehicle.


San Diego Sector – Border Patrol agents seized a loaded AK-47 assault rifle and two loaded magazines, and arrested five illegal aliens near Otay Mesa, California. Agents encountered the five subjects while patrolling and discovered the AK-47 rifle and magazines in the area of the arrest. Some of the apprehended subjects claimed they were smuggled into the United States and had the weapons pointed at them.


Yuma Sector – Border Patrol agents reported the rescue of two USCs from a canal near Yuma, Arizona. Both subjects were caught in the current and struggling to stay afloat. Agents successfully rescued both subjects from the canal.

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