Is The Drug Smuggling, Human Trafficking, Illegal National Border Crossings Really Down This Year?

It has been recently published by many media outlets that the drug, smuggling, human trafficking and illegal crossings are down from last year. However, what does that really mean to you and your family or your community?

Corridor News will start publishing all Texas border activity from the U.S. Border and Customs Protection on Wednesday’s. We will include drug, smuggling, human trafficking and illegal crossings.

The issues on the U.S. and Mexico border aren’t a simple problem to be fixed by the current border security.

It has been recently published by many media outlets that the drug, smuggling, human trafficking and illegal crossings are down from last year.

However, what does that really mean to you and your family or your community?

Corridor News vowed that we wanted to report to you the news that affects your daily lives, and hopefully, this will help us all understand just a small part of what does happen on our U.S. Mexico Border….. in Texas.

Texas isn’t the only border state. So as you read below, remember this information is only what is occurring on the Texas border and is weekly information.

To report suspicious activity such as alien and/or drug smuggling, contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll-free telephone number at 1-800-343-1994. All people apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using biometrics to ensure their criminal histories are positively identified.

Week of April 12 – 18, 2018- Texas total of illegal crossing arrests, including their nationality & drug seizures including pounds, type of drug and “street value” total.

• Texas Illegal Border Crossing Arrests and Nationality:

° Mexican: 32

° Gang (Paisano): 1

° U.S. Citizen: 1

° Bangladeshi Nationals: 5 (total of 179 in year 2018)

° Number of events with amount of arrests and/or nationality was not listed: 2

• Texas Drug Seizures Totals (pounds & street value):

° Marijuana: 3,176 lbs                       Street Value: $2,494,000

° Crystal Meth: 71 lbs.                       Street Value:  $1,417,998

° Weekly Drug Total: 3,247 lbs.    Weekly Street Value Total: $3,911,998

Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Continue Arrests of Bangladeshi Nationals

LAREDO, Texas – April 12, 2018, Border Patrol agents in Laredo, Texas arrested an illegal alien from the country of Bangladesh. The subject was encountered after illegally crossing the Rio Grande River in south Laredo.

The Laredo Sector Border Patrol continues to have the highest apprehension of Bangladeshi Nationals compared to other Border Patrol Sectors. Currently, the Laredo Sector Border Patrol has apprehended 171 Bangladeshi Nationals since the start of fiscal year 2018.

“It goes to show that our agents are arresting people from all over the world on a daily basis. Their intentions for entering the country illegally can only be determined after they have been arrested,” said Laredo Sector Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Gabriel Acosta.

Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Agents outwit unconventional tactics to net close to $2M worth of marijuana

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – On Thursday, April 12, Fort Brown agents encountered a pickup that was stuck in an agriculture field after it was ferried across the Rio Grande near Brownsville, Texas. Agents detained the driver and discovered 24 bundles of marijuana in the bed of the pickup, weighing 576 pounds with an estimated street value of $460K.

This past Saturday evening (4-14-2018), Harlingen agents working near Los Indios, Texas observed a suspicious vehicle leaving the Rio Grande with the headlights off.

Responding agents apprehended the driver after he struck an irrigation pipe in an attempt to evade. A total of 22 bundles of marijuana, weighing nearly 1,700 pounds with an estimated street value over $1.3M, were found inside the vehicle.

Both vehicles were seized and the marijuana will be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

NOTE: No report on nationality/how many arrests from these two drug seizures.

Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Arrest Paisano Gang Member

LAREDO, Texas – On April 13, 2018, Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien associated to the Paisano Gang. The subject was apprehended along with 24 other illegal aliens near Hebbronville, Texas.

The subject, a Mexican National, admitted to being a member of the Paisano Gang. The subject had been deported multiple times and had a criminal history which included assault.  The subject will be processed accordingly for his illegal re-entry into the United States.

Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Rescue Six Illegal Aliens

LAREDO, Texas – On April 13, 2018, Border Patrol Agents from the Laredo North Station encountered a white Chevrolet pick-up truck on Interstate Highway 35, north of Laredo, Texas.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of six illegal aliens inside a locked compartment of the truck bed.

The six illegal aliens were found in good health and determined to be from the country of Mexico. The driver, identified as an illegal alien from Mexico, and the passenger, a United States Citizen, were both arrested. The vehicle was seized by Border Patrol. Homeland Security Investigations is the lead agency on this case.

“These criminal organizations view these individuals as mere commodities without regard for their safety. The blatant disregard for human life will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle these organizations and prosecute those responsible,” said Laredo Sector Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Gabriel Acosta.

The Laredo Sector Border Patrol will continue to warn against the dangers of people crossing illegally into the United States through dangerous environmental conditions.

The Border Safety Initiative (BSI) is a humanitarian, bi-national strategy designed to reduce illegal alien deaths, educate and inform potential illegal aliens of the dangers and hazards of crossing the border illegally, and to respond to those who are in life-threatening situations.

Splash down leads to 900 pounds of marijuana in the Rio Grande Valley

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – On Sunday, April 15, agents observed several subjects loading bundles of narcotics into a small Toyota SUV near Escobares, Texas.

As mobile units responded to the area, the driver splashed the vehicle into the Rio Grande. Agents witnessed the driver swim back to Mexico.

The vehicle was extracted from the river and a total of 63 bundles of marijuana weighing over 900 pounds and worth an estimated $743K were recovered.

The vehicle and marijuana were turned over to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

“As we strengthen our network between local, state, and federal partners, we will continue to interdict narcotics and keep them out of our communities,” said Chief Patrol Agent Manuel Padilla, Jr.

CBP Officers Seize More Than $1.4 Million in Crystal Methamphetamine at the Laredo Port of Entry

On Monday, April 16, CBP officers at the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge seized approximately 33 pounds of alleged crystal methamphetamine in four packages concealed within a utility trailer hauled by a 2000 Ford F-150.

Additionally on April 16, CBP officers at the same bridge seized approximately 38 pounds of alleged crystal methamphetamine in four packages concealed with in a utility trailer hauled by a 1999 Ford F-150.

In each seizure, CBP officers conducted a thorough secondary examination, utilizing canine units to aid in locating the hidden narcotics. The seized narcotics have a combined estimated street value of $1,417,998.

CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicles. The cases were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.

“I commend our CBP officers for their continued vigilance and determination to prevent and deter hard narcotics from reaching our communities,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “They remain alert and continue to protect our nation from these dangerous drugs and people who pose a threat to our communities and our way of life.”

NOTE: No report of number of arrests or nationality.

Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Continue Arrests of Bangladeshi Nationals

LAREDO, Texas – April 17, 2018, Border Patrol Agents in Laredo, Texas arrested four illegal aliens from the country of Bangladesh.  The subjects were encountered after illegally crossing the Rio Grande River in south Laredo.

The Laredo Sector Border Patrol continues to have the highest apprehension of Bangladeshi Nationals compared to other Border Patrol Sectors.  Currently, the Laredo Sector Border Patrol has apprehended 179 Bangladeshi Nationals since the start of fiscal year 2018.

“It goes to show that our agents are arresting people from all over the world on a daily basis. Their intentions for entering the country illegally can only be determined after they have been arrested,” said Laredo Sector Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Gabriel Acosta.