U.S. Border Patrol Weekly Blotter: March 11 - March 17

(03/18/2010)Border Patrol agents seized over 9,826 pounds of marijuana and 3.7 pounds of Ecstasy. Agents arrested nine criminal aliens and eight gang members. There were two 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 March 11, 2010

El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near El Paso, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being a Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) gang member. Records checks revealed he had previously been removed from the United States.


Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents rescued an illegal alien from Mexico near Laredo, Texas. The subject was attempting to cross the Rio Grande River when he was pulled underwater several times by the strong current. Agents maneuvered their boat toward the exhausted subject and extracted him from the river. Agents stabilized the subject and emergency medical services personnel who were waiting on the riverbank transported him to a local hospital for medical treatment. The subject was treated and released into Border Patrol custody.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 3,377 pounds of marijuana, a tractor-trailer and arrested a United States Citizen (USC) at the traffic checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas. The subject presented himself for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A scan using non-intrusive inspection technology revealed anomalies in the vehicle and a search by agents yielded the narcotics.


Tucson Sector – An off-duty Border Patrol agent assisted an infant in distress while en route to work near Sierra Vista, Arizona. The agent heard a woman screaming and observed her holding a non-responsive infant. The agent determined that the infant had a blocked airway, performed first aid, and the infant began breathing. The agent remained with the infant and her mother until emergency medical service personnel arrived to transport the infant to a local hospital.


Yuma Sector – Border Patrol agents seized three firearms, ammunition, personal use marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, a vehicle, and arrested an adult USC and two juvenile USCs at the traffic checkpoint near Dateland, Arizona. The subjects presented themselves for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle. A search yielded two of the weapons and the narcotics. The third weapon was found in the waistband of one of the juveniles. Two of the weapons were reported stolen in the State of Arizona.


Reported on March 12, 2010


El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested a national of Mexico near Thermal, California. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for sexual battery of a minor and failure to register as a sex offender in the State of California. He had also been ordered removed from the United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 4,605 pounds of marijuana, a tractor-trailer, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas. The subject presented himself for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search revealed the marijuana concealed inside the trailer.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,531 pounds of marijuana and a vehicle near Weslaco, Texas. Agents observed the driver of the vehicle acting suspiciously, and abruptly making a U-turn. Agents subsequently located the vehicle abandoned. A search of the vehicle revealed the marijuana inside.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Sasabe, Arizona. The subject stated that when his brother was unable to walk further, he was left behind in the mountains. Agents were deployed to the area and rescued the subject who had a head injury and other exposure-related injuries. The subject was extracted from the mountainous terrain and transported to a local hospital for treatment.


Reported on March 13, 2010


El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested a group of 25 illegal aliens who claimed they were robbed at gunpoint by eight bandits near Douglas, Arizona. Two additional illegal aliens were apprehended and the original group identified them as the bandits. The two subjects admitted their involvement in the robbery. The case was referred to local law enforcement officials for investigation.


Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents discovered an abandoned Bengal tiger cub in a cage near Laredo, Texas. The tiger was transported to a local veterinarian for evaluation and subsequently turned over to State animal control authorities.


New Orleans Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Jamaica near Lake Charles, Louisiana. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for 1st degree manslaughter and had previously been removed from the United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents rescued an illegal alien from Honduras near McFaddin, Texas. The subject jumped into the river to avoid arrest and was unable to remain afloat. Agents extracted the subject from the river and he was treated by local emergency medical services personnel. The subject was released into Border Patrol custody. Records checks revealed he had previously been removed from the United States.


San Diego Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Otay Mesa, California. The subject admitted to being a Sureño 13 gang member and records checks revealed he had previously been removed from the United States. Records checks also revealed he was the subject of a felony warrant of arrest for dangerous drugs issued in the State of California.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 81 pounds of marijuana at the traffic checkpoint near Amado, Arizona. Agents discovered the marijuana concealed inside a vehicle, which had been presented for inspection.


Reported on March 14, 2010


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Sonoita, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for sexual assault in the State of Wisconsin and had previously been removed from the United States.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Ajo, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had an extraditable warrant for probation violation in the State of Texas, as well as two pending charges for indecency with a child/sexual contact. The subject had also previously been removed from the United States.


Reported on March 15, 2010


El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Ocotillo, California. Records checks revealed the subject was a Sureño 13 gang member and had been previously removed from the United States.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Casa Grande, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for public sexual indecency with a minor present, in the State of Arizona. The subject had also previously been removed from the United States.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Nogales, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for homicide in the State of North Carolina and had previously been removed from the United States.


Reported on March 16, 2010


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Honduras near Falfurrias, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being an MS-13 gang member. Records checks revealed he had a prior conviction for attempted sexual assault and had previously been removed from the United States.


Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Sarita, Texas. During processing, the subject admitted to being an MS-13 gang member and records checks revealed he had previously been removed from the United States.


Swanton Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 3.7 pounds of Ecstasy (MDMA), a 2010 Toyota Corolla, and arrested an illegal alien from Canada near Colebrook, New Hampshire. Customs and Border Protection officers notified agents of a port runner and gave a description of the suspect vehicle. An agent encountered the vehicle and observed the subject attempting to run from the vehicle. The subject was subsequently apprehended and a Border Patrol canine alerted to a plastic bag found next to the subject, containing the Ecstasy.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Douglas, Arizona. During processing, the subject admitted to being a Sureño 13 gang member, and records checks revealed he had previously been removed from the United States.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Safford, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for sex with a minor under 16-years-old and had previously been removed from the United States.


Yuma Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Blythe, California. Records checks revealed the subject had a prior conviction for murder in the State of California and had previously been removed from the United States.


Reported on March 17, 2010


El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested a group of twelve illegal aliens from Mexico near Ocotillo, California. The group claimed to have encountered armed bandits in Mexico prior to illegally entering the United States. Three of the individuals claimed they were held for ransom, and six individuals claimed they were robbed of the money they were carrying. Appropriate law enforcement authorities were notified of the incident.


El Paso Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 232 pounds of marijuana, a 1999 Nissan Altima and arrested a national of Mexico near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Agents observed several individuals loading backpacks of suspected narcotics into the vehicle. When agents approached, the driver of the vehicle attempted to flee, but was subsequently stopped after agents deployed a controlled tire deflation device. A search revealed the marijuana inside the vehicle.


Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested three illegal aliens who claimed they were robbed at gunpoint by a group of five bandits near Sasabe, Arizona. The aliens stated the assailants robbed them of all their money, food, water and some articles of clothing near the international border. The case was referred to local law enforcement officials.

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