Texas Border Patrol Arrest Illegals From Syria, India, Bengali, Guatemala, Mexico And Seize $5.3 Million In Narcotics
For anyone to understand whether there are actual drug, smuggling, human trafficking, illegal immigrant crossings or gang activity is a problem or political bloviation, we need the numbers and facts…
By, Corridor Staff
Below you will find new information reported drug, smuggling, human trafficking and illegal crossings that have occurred either on the Texas border and ports over the week of May 9 – May 13.
As you read below, you may come to understand the issues on the U.S. and Mexico border aren’t a simple problem to be fixed by the current border security or policies out of D.C.
It has been recently published by many media outlets that the drug, smuggling, human trafficking and illegal crossings have been consistently dropping over the last couple of years.
U.S. citizens are given inconsistent information on illegal crossings and criminal activity that is happening on the Mexico and U.S. border. For anyone to understand whether there are actual drug, smuggling, human trafficking, illegal immigrant crossings or gang activity is a problem or political bloviation, we need the numbers and facts.
Texas isn’t the only border state. So as you read the weekly report below, remember this information is only what is occurring on the Texas-Mexico border and Texas ports.
The information below is gathered directly from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is under the purview of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
As for the accuracy of the information we have provided to you, we can only decipher the information that is released to us. Therefore the number of incidents, arrests, types of narcotics, weight and street value is considered the minimum amount…
Below you can find the totals of illegal crossing arrests, including their nationality & drug seizures including pounds, type of drug and “street value” total. Additionally, you will find a link to view last week’s totals.
All people apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using biometrics to ensure their criminal histories are positively identified. To report suspicious activity such as alien and/or drug smuggling, contact their website at http://www.cbp.gov.
• Week of May 9 – May 16, 2018 •
Texas Illegal Border Crossing Arrests/Apprehensions and Nationality
U.S. Citizens Arrests/Apprehensions: 1
Guatemalan Citizens Arrests/Apprehensions: 6
India Citizens Arrests/Apprehensions: 4
Syria Citizen Arrests/Apprehensions: 2
Bangladesh Citizen Arrests/Apprehensions: 1
Number of Events Where Individual Absconded/Wasn’t Listed: 2
Illegal Citizens Rescued/Arrests/Apprehensions: 681
Total Weekly Arrests Reported/Apprehensions: 17
*NOTE: The weekly total does NOT includ the 680 Illegal Citizens that is reported below as “Rescued” during the current fiscal year.
Texas Drug Total Seizures
NOTE: U.S. dollar and weight used
Marijuana: 414 lbs.
Street Value: $331,240
Methamphetamine: 186.25 lbs.
(includes Liquid Meth)
Street Value –Individual total not listed
Cocaine: 121.86 lbs.
Street Value –Individual total not listed
Heroin: 21 lbs.
Street Value –Individual total not listed
Weekly Drug Total (pounds/lbs.): 743.11 lbs.
Weekly Street Value Total Reported: $5,340,101 Million
CBP Officers Strike Big as they Intercept $2.5 Million in Hard Narcotics Over the Weekend at the Laredo Port of Entry
Release Date: May 14, 2018
LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers maintained their vigilance and intercepted multiple types of narcotics with a combined estimated street value exceeding $2.5 million in two separate enforcement operations over the weekend.
“I congratulate our officers for their dedication which has prevented these dangerous narcotics from entering our country,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “These interceptions are a true example of the great men and women we have protecting our borders.”
The largest seizure took place on Saturday, May 12 at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2007 Mitsubishi Endeavor driven by a 40-year-old male United States citizen who resides in Laredo, Texas for a secondary inspection. Upon a physical inspection of the vehicle by CBP officers, a total of five packages containing 12 pounds of alleged heroin and 38 packages containing 94 pounds of alleged cocaine was discovered.
The other seizure took place on Thursday, May 10 at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2001
Ford pickup driven by a 50-year-old male Mexican citizen who resides in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas for a secondary inspection. CBP officers utilizing non-intrusive imaging systems and canines discovered a total of 77 pounds of liquid methamphetamine hidden within the vehicle.
The narcotics combined have an estimated street value of $2,590,790.
CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicles. The drivers were arrested and the cases were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special
agents for further investigation.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Continue Rescue Efforts
Release Date: May 10, 2018
LAREDO, Texas – On May 9, 2018, Border Patrol Agents from the Laredo North Station rescued one illegal alien in a ranch northwest of Laredo, Texas. The subject had resorted to calling Border Patrol for assistance and stated he had been lost for three days without food and water.
Agents were able to locate the lost subject and found him with severe blisters on his foot. The subject was evaluated and treated by a Border Patrol Agent certified as an Emergency Medical Technician. The rescued subject was determined to be from the country of Guatemala.
On May 10, 2018, Border Patrol Agents with the Laredo Sector Marine Unit rescued five illegal aliens near the riverbanks in Laredo, Texas. The five subjects had been smuggled across the river and abandoned by a callous smuggler. The five subjects were left clinging to a branch on the U.S. riverbanks and were faced with the rapid current and deep-water conditions of the Rio Grande River.
Agents with the Laredo Sector Marine Unit were able to rescue the five subjects and pull them on board the marine vessel for safety. The rescued subjects were determined to be from the country of Guatemala.
“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.
CBP Officers at Laredo Port of Entry Seize $465K in Liquid Methamphetamine
Release Date: May 9, 2018
A bucket contains 33.25 pounds of liquid methamphetamine seized by CBP officers at Gateway to the Americas Bridge. Photo courtesy of CBP.LAREDO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry recently seized a significant load of alleged liquid methamphetamine with a street value in excess of $465,000.
“With the reopening of vehicular traffic at Gateway to the Americas Bridge, our frontline CBP officers continue to maintain their strict vigilance to uphold our border security mission and their application of experience and technology resulted in a significant hard narcotics seizure,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry.
The seizure occurred on Friday, May 4, when CBP officers at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge referred a 2008 Ford Explorer for a secondary examination.
Further examination utilizing a CBP canine and non-intrusive imaging systems resulted in the discovery of 33.25 pounds of liquid methamphetamine
concealed with within the vehicle.
The methamphetamine has an estimated street value of $465,435.
CBP seized the narcotics, vehicle and referred the case for further investigation by Homeland Security Investigations special agents.
CBP Officers at Laredo Port of Entry Seize Over $1.7 Million Worth of Hard Narcotics Over the Weekend
Release Date: May 9, 2018
Packages containing 76 pounds of methamphetamine seized by CBP officers at Juarez-Lincoln Bridge. Photo courtesy of CBP.LAREDO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry recently seized a significant amount of hard narcotics with a combined total street value exceeding $1.7 million in two enforcement actions over the weekend.
“These significant seizures illustrate the commitment our CBP officers have in keeping these dangerous narcotics off our streets while processing traffic in a timely manner,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry.
The most recent seizure occurred on Sunday, May 6, when CBP officers at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge seized nine pounds of alleged heroin in five packages concealed within a 2005 Ford pickup driven by a 27-year-old male Mexican citizen resident of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
The largest of the two seizures occurred on Friday, May 4, when CBP officers at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge seized 76 pounds of alleged methamphetamine in 63 packages hidden within
a 2007 Nissan Tiida, driven by a 32-year-old male Mexican citizen also a resident from Monterrey,
Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
The narcotics combined have an estimated street value of $1,737,756.
CBP seized the narcotics and the vehicles. The drivers were arrested and the cases were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Arrest Syrian, Bangladeshi and Indian Nationals
Release Date: May 9, 2018
LAREDO, Texas – On May 5, 2018, Border Patrol Agents arrested four illegal aliens from the country of India. Two days later, on May 7, 2018, Border Patrol Agents arrested two illegal aliens from the country of Syria and one illegal alien from Bangladesh.
The subjects were encountered after illegally crossing the Rio Grande River near the Santa Rita Subdivision in Laredo, Texas. 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 229 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 H. Acosta.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Rescue Over 680 Illegal Aliens
Release Date: May 9, 2018
LAREDO, Texas – Border Patrol Agents throughout the Laredo Sector have rescued over 680 illegal aliens who have fallen into distress or become lost during their journey into the United States for fiscal year 2018.
Although rescues for the Laredo Sector Border Patrol are down 9% from the previous fiscal year, Border Patrol Agents stand ready to respond and assist anyone in need.
On May 7, 2018, after Border Patrol Agents from the Laredo West Station rescued one illegal alien and discovered a deceased subject in a ranch northwest of Laredo, Texas.
The rescued subject had called Border Patrol to request assistance and stated his cousin was deceased. Agents were able to locate the lost subject and a Border Patrol Agent certified as an Emergency Medical Technician immediately evaluated the subject and began administering Intravenous Fluids (IV).
Border Patrol Agents transported the subject to a local hospital for further treatment. A short time later, Agents discovered the body of the deceased subject. The rescued subject was determined to be from the country of Mexico.
On May 8, 2018, Border Patrol Agents from the Cotulla Station and the Laredo Sector Horse Patrol Unit rescued an illegal alien in a ranch northwest of Laredo, Texas.
Agents encountered the subject while tracking a group of illegal aliens. The subject was found suffering from severe dehydration and claimed to be assaulted by the smuggler.
A Border Patrol Agent certified as an Emergency Medical Technician immediately evaluated the subject. The subject was turned over to Emergency Medical Services and transported to a local hospital.
The subject was determined to be from the country of Mexico.
“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.
The Laredo Sector Border Patrol will continue to warn against the dangers of people crossing illegally into the United States through dangerous environmental conditions.
Our 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.
CBP Officers at the Pharr Port of Entry Seize Cocaine Valued at Over $214K
Release Date: May 9, 2018
PHARR, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge seized alleged cocaine valued at $214,880.
Packages containing 27.86 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Pharr International Bridge. Photo courtesy of CBP.“Our officers’ continued diligence in carrying out CBP’s border security mission led to this outstanding narcotic seizure,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
The seizure occurred on May 4 at the Pharr International Bridge after CBP officers referred a white 2007 Honda Pilot to secondary for an enforcement inspection.
A 37-year-old female Mexican citizen from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico drove the vehicle. After a physical inspection and the use a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system along with the help of a canine team, CBP officers discovered 11 packages containing 27.86 pounds of alleged cocaine.
CBP OFO seized the narcotics along with the vehicle, arrested the driver and turned her over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Seize Over 400 Pounds of Marijuana
Release Date: May 9, 2018
LAREDO, Texas – On May 8, 2018, Border Patrol Agents seized over 414 pounds of marijuana after responding to suspicious activity in Laredo, Texas.
Agents observed a green Pontiac sedan traveling from the riverbanks towards Pierce Street and Santa Isabel Avenue, where it came to a stop after crashing near the railroad tracks. The driver of the vehicle absconded from the scene and Border Patrol Agents were able to recover six bundles of marijuana inside the vehicle.
The marijuana had an estimated value of $331,240.00. The marijuana was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the vehicle was seized by Border Patrol.
