Texas Border And Port Narcotic Seizures, Arrests And Apprehensions For The Week Of May 2 – May 8

Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Face Dangerous Evasive Tactics by Smugglers

Release Date:  May 8, 2018

LAREDO, Texas – On May 1, 2018, Border Patrol agents seized 281 pounds of marijuana after responding to suspicious activity in south Laredo, Texas. Agents attempted to perform a vehicle stop on a black Chevrolet Suburban, which failed to yield. To avoid arrest, the occupants of the vehicle began throwing hand made rebar spikes at the Agents. A Border Patrol vehicle was struck and sustained damage from the rebar spike. Agents were able to locate the vehicle near the 4000 block of Amanda Lane.  Border Patrol Agents recovered four bundles of marijuana and arrested three subjects. The marijuana had an estimated value of $225,040.00. The marijuana was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the vehicle was seized by Border Patrol.  The three subjects were turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On May 3, 2018, Border Patrol agents arrested two United Sates Citizens attempting to smuggle four illegal aliens in south Laredo, Texas.  Agents attempted to perform a vehicle stop on a gray Chevrolet Suburban which failed to yield and struck a Border Patrol vehicle. The Suburban continued into a nearby neighborhood striking a parked vehicle and a fence at the intersection of Ireland and Texas Streets. The driver, passenger and four subjects absconded from the scene and were immediately apprehended. A Border Patrol Agent was transported to the hospital for treatment as a result of the Suburban striking the Border Patrol vehicle. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating this case.

“These events illustrate the dangers the men and women of the United States Border Patrol face every day in securing our border. Criminal organizations have no regard for human life and pose a threat to law enforcement and the community,” said Laredo Sector Acting Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Scott Good.

Customs and Border Protection at Hidalgo International Bridge Arrests Man Wanted on Child Sexual Assault Charges

Release Date: May 8, 2018

HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested a 17-year-old man from Edinburg, Texas who was wanted in that same city on charges of child sexual assault.

“Once again our officers have detected a person who is a fugitive of the law and in particular, an individual who has charges pending for allegedly assaulting a minor,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

The incident occurred on May 4, at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge after CBP officers encountered a male 17-year-old U.S. citizen as he arrived from Mexico through the pedestrian lanes. An initial check on primary resulted on the traveler being a possible match to an outstanding arrest warrant. After CBP officers escorted him to secondary, subsequent biometric verification through law enforcement databases confirmed his identity and the arrest warrant from the Edinburg, Texas Police Department.

The arrest warrant issued in April 2018 by the Edinburg Police Department was for an alleged incident which occurred in February where the 17-year-old was accused and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a 13-year-old female child, a first-degree felony.

CBP OFO arrested the young man and then released him to the custody of the Edinburg Police Department, who transported him to the Hidalgo County Jail to await criminal proceedings.

Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Rescue 11 Illegal Aliens

Release Date: May 8, 2018

LAREDO, Texas – Border Patrol Agents throughout the Laredo Sector rescued 11 illegal aliens who fell into distress or became lost during five different events.

On April 28, 2018, Border Patrol Agents from the Laredo South Station rescued two illegal aliens near Mangana Hein Road in south Laredo, Texas. The subjects claimed to be lost and resorted to calling 911 for assistance. Agents were able to locate the lost subjects in good health. The subjects were determined to be from the country of Mexico and illegally in the United States.

On May 2, 2018, Border Patrol Agents from the Laredo North Station rescued one illegal alien near the Colombia Bridge in Laredo, Texas.  The subject claimed to be lost and resorted to calling 911 for assistance.  Agents were able to locate the lost subject in good health.  The subject was determined to be from the country of Mexico and illegally in the United States.

Later that day, on May 2, 2018, Border Patrol Agents from the Laredo South Station responded to assist the Webb County Sheriff’s Office near Rio Bravo, Texas.  Webb County Sheriff’s Office Deputies had encountered a male subject who claimed a female was severely dehydrated and still in the nearby brush. Agents immediately began backtracking and searching for the female subject and were able to locate her in the brush.  Due to her severe condition, a Border Patrol Agent certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) administered Intravenous antibiotics (IV).  The subject was transported to a Laredo hospital for further evaluation.  The female subject was determined to be from the country of Guatemala and illegally in the United States.

Later that afternoon, Border Patrol Agents from the Laredo West Station rescued five illegal aliens in a ranch northwest of Laredo, Texas.  The subjects claimed to be lost and resorted to calling 911 for assistance.  Agents were able to locate the lost subjects in good health.  All subjects were determined to be from the country of Mexico and illegally in the United States.

Later that evening, Border Patrol Agents from the Hebbronville Station rescued two illegal aliens in a ranch near Falfurrias, Texas.  The two subjects claimed to be lost and resorted to calling 911 for assistance.  Agents were able to locate the lost subjects and determined one of them required additional medical attention.  The subject was transported to a Laredo hospital for further evaluation.  Both subjects were determined to be from the country of Guatemala and illegally in the United States.

“These events illustrate how the men and women of the United States Border Patrol not only serve to protect our borders, but are also committed to the preservation of life and assist anyone in need,” said Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Gabriel H. Acosta.

Maryland Fugitive Wanted for Homicide Apprehended by CBP Officers at the Laredo Port of Entry

Release Date: May 7, 2018

LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry working in collaboration with Mexican authorities took custody at mid-bridge of a male subject at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge who was discovered to have an outstanding state arrest warrant for homicide issued in Gaithersburg, Md. 

“CBP has an outstanding working relationship with our Mexican counterparts and we continue to remain in constant communication and coordination when dangerous fugitives from the United States flee the country and are apprehended by Mexican authorities,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry.

The fugitive apprehension occurred on Monday, May 7 at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge when Mexican authorities escorted Ruel Francis Dempster II, a male 30-year-old Liberian citizen, to CBP officers at mid-bridge. After escorting the subject to secondary, subsequent biometric verification through law enforcement databases confirmed that the subject had an outstanding warrant for homicide out of Montgomery County Police Department in Gaithersburg, Md. and a probation violation warrant from U.S. Marshals Service Headquarters in Arlington, Va.

CBP officers confirmed the identity of the subject and Homeland Security Investigations agents transported the fugitive to Webb County Jail in Laredo, Texas. 

NCIC is a centralized automated database designed to share information among law enforcement agencies including outstanding warrants for a wide range of offenses. Based on information from NCIC, CBP officers have made previous arrests of individuals wanted for homicide, escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual child abuse, fraud, larceny, and military desertion.

Charges and allegations contained in criminal complaints are merely accusations.  Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

CBP Field Operations Seizes over $112 K in Narcotics Concealed in a Trailer

Release Date: May 4, 2018      1. Cocaine – 12.26 lbs.  2. Marijuana 90.38 lbs. $112,598-Both

PHARR, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge seized $112,598 worth of alleged marijuana and cocaine concealed within a commercial trailer.

“This interception of a significant amount of narcotics is a direct result of the outstanding inspections work our CBP officers do on the frontlines every day to keep our borders secure,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

On May 2, CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility encountered a red 2015 Kenworth tractor-trailer. A 29-year-old male Mexican citizen from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico drove the conveyance.

After the conveyance was referred for a secondary inspection, CBP officers along with the help of a canine team located the narcotics. CBP officers extracted 14 packages containing 90.38 pounds of alleged marijuana and five packages containing 12.26 pounds of alleged cocaine concealed within the trailer.

The narcotics have a combined estimated street value of $112,598.

CBP OFO seized the narcotics, arrested the driver, and turned him over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for further investigation.

Del Rio Sector Marine Unit Saves Man from Rio Grande River

Release Date: May 4, 2018 

EAGLE PASS, Texas — U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Del Rio Sector Marine Unit helped rescue a Mexican citizen from the Rio Grande River who got caught up in the high water Thursday afternoon. 

“A necessary release of water by the International Boundary and Water Commission at Amistad Dam resulted in a much higher and even more dangerous river in recent weeks,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Felix Chavez. “Thanks to the partnerships we maintain with our Mexican counterparts and the fast action of our agents, an innocent life was saved yesterday and a potential tragedy avoided.”

On May 3, members of Grupo Beta, a Mexican-based relief unit in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, placed a call for help to the Border Patrol’s Foreign Operations Branch in Del Rio.

The caller indicated that a Mexican citizen, who was either fishing or swimming, became trapped in the high water and could not safely return to the Mexican shoreline. The water was running at least five times its normal levels due to the release of water from the Amistad Dam.

Del Rio Sector Marine agents who were in the area at the time, immediately responded and located the distressed man. He was holding on to the Carrizo Cane vegetation to keep himself from being swept down river by the strong river current.

Agents utilized a “throw-line” to retrieve the man from the high water and safely pull him onto the vessel. The man was immediately and safely turned over to the relief workers.

Multiple meth smuggling cases thwarted at the Falfurrias Checkpoint

Release Date:  May 3, 2018

FALFURRIAS, Texas – On Tuesday, agents assigned to the Falfurrias Checkpoint referred a Chevrolet Cruze to the secondary inspection area. While in secondary, the passenger, an adult male, was determined to be illegally in the United States.

Agents also discovered four bundles of methamphetamine, weighing over 11 pounds and worth an estimated $373K, hidden inside the vehicle.

The driver and methamphetamine were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.

Later that evening, Falfurrias Checkpoint agents referred the driver of a tractor-trailer to the secondary inspection area after a K-9 alerted. Agents discovered nearly 70 pounds of methamphetamine, worth over $2.1M, inside the cab.

The United States citizen driver and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Collaborative efforts paying dividends in the Rio Grande Valley

Release Date:  May 2, 2018

EDINBURG, Texas – On Tuesday, May 1, 2018, U.S. Border Patrol agents, working in collaboration with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office and the Hidalgo County Constable’s Office, identified a suspected stash house in Edinburg, Texas. A total of 25 illegal aliens were discovered inside.

The subjects were comprised of illegal aliens from Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador and Uruguay.

“These are potentially lifesaving enforcement efforts amongst our local, state and federal partners,” said Chief Patrol Agent Manuel Padilla, Jr. “Smugglers will place them in further danger while attempting to get them past our checkpoints.”

All subjects were offered medical assistance and will be processed accordingly.

Criminal encounters continue throughout the Rio Grande Valley Sector

Release Date:  May 2, 2018

 EDINBURG, Texas –  US Border Patrol agents apprehended eight criminal aliens throughout the Rio Grande Valley during the last seven days.

Last week, agents assigned to the McAllen and Kingsville Stations apprehended six Salvadoran nationals, five that were later determined to be members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang and one who was associated with the 18th Street gang.

Additionally, agents assigned to the Weslaco Border Patrol Station arrested a Guatemalan national whose record checks revealed that he subject was previously arrested for Homicide negligent manslaughter by Lake Worth Florida Police Department and sentenced to five years confinement. Shortly after, Weslaco agents arrested an adult Guatemalan male near McAllen, Texas.

Record checks revealed that the subject had two separate charges for sex offense against a child.

The charges were from the Belle Glade, Florida and Orlando, Florida Police Departments.

All subjects will be processed accordingly.