Texas Border Patrol Seize $18.5M In Marijuana, Apprehend Illegals From Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico
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 22 – May 28.
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.
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and to help save lives by reporting suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.
• Week of May 22 – May 28, 2018 •
Texas Illegal Border Crossing
Arrests/Apprehensions & Nationality
U.S. Citizens Arrests/Apprehensions: 1
Illegal Arrests/Apprehensions from Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador & Nicaragua: 71
*NOTE: The number of arrests/apprehensions were not separated out by country from Customs & Border Protection.
Number of Events Where arrests/apprehensions were not listed: 1
Total Weekly Arrests Reported/Apprehensions: 72
Texas Drug Total Seizures & Estimated Street Price
The map above is from an article published on May 3, 2018 in WIKILEAF. We used the pricing from above to calculate the estimated street value of Marijuana.NOTE: U.S. dollar and weight used
Marijuana: 4,679 lbs.
Estimated Street Value: $18,582,840 Million
Weekly Drug Total (pounds/lbs.): 4,679 lbs.
Estimated Street Value: $18,528,840 Million
NOTE: The map from WIKILEAF shows the estimated price for 1 ounce of marijuana is $247.50 for street value. Therefore the estimated price for 1 lb. would be $3,960.
Border Patrol: Rescue Beacon Saves Life in the Rio Grande Valley
Release Date: May 28, 2018
Rescue Beacon on the ranchland of Brooks County. Photo from CBP.EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued a man after he activated a beacon to requesting emergency assistance.
On Tuesday, agents assigned to the Falfurrias Border Patrol station received a signal from a rescue beacon near Encino, Texas. Units were deployed to the beacon and encountered a Mexican national who had been left behind by smugglers.
The man was provided basic medical attention and will be processed accordingly.
The following day, agents patrolling the vast ranchland discovered human remains near Falfurrias, Texas. The Brooks County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location and took custody of the remains.
Once again, on Thursday, Kingsville agents discovered human remains near Armstrong, Texas. Kenedy County Sheriff’s Office responded to take custody of the remains.
“Smugglers do not feel any empathy for those who succumb to the Texas heat,” said Chief Patrol Agent Manuel Padilla, Jr. “While we have committed technology and resources toward our humanitarian efforts for life preservation, we highly caution immigrants who contemplate placing their lives in the hands of smugglers.”
One bust leads to another in the Rio Grande Valley
Release Date:May 28, 2018
EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol Agents and the Starr County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) seized over 300 pounds of marijuana at a residence and apprehended 70 illegal aliens at a separate location.
Yesterday, collaborative efforts led to the seizure of 34 bundles of marijuana, weighing 320 pounds, and the arrest of an illegal alien at a residence near Roma, Texas.
Additional information received resulted in the discovery of another suspected stash house. Border Patrol Agents, HIDTA Officers, Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers, Roma Police Officers, and Rio Grande City Police Officers disrupted the smuggling operation and apprehended 70 illegal aliens.
The Starr County HIDTA Task Force took custody of the subject arrested at the marijuana stash house.
The illegal aliens were from Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras.
All subjects were offered medical attention and will be processed accordingly.
Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol seizes over $2M worth of marijuana
Release Date: May 25, 2018
Over 2,700 pounds of marijuana seized by US Border Patrol agents. Photo by CBP.HARLINGEN, Texas – On Thursday, agents assigned to the Harlingen Border Patrol station received a report of several subjects loading bundles of narcotics into a vehicle near Los Indios, Texas.
Responding agents located the vehicle, a Chevrolet pick-up, driving along the highway and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
The driver refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended at the Rio Grande where the driver and passenger abandoned the vehicle and the narcotics and fled to Mexico.
Inside the pickup, agents discovered 41 bundles of narcotics weighing over 2,700 pounds and worth an estimated $2.2M.
The vehicle was seized and the marijuana was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
CBP Officers at the Laredo Port of Entry Apprehend a U.S. Fugitive Wanted for Capital Murder
Release Date: May 25, 2018
A view of the Laredo Port of Entry pedestrian arrival area at Gateway to the Americas Bridge. Photo by CBP.LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry detained a fugitive at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge who had an outstanding warrant out of Little Rock, Arkansas for capital murder.
“CBP officers remain vigilant in intercepting travelers with outstanding warrants,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “This apprehension demonstrates our CBP officers’ vigilance and dedication to securing the homeland and keeping our communities safe.”
The fugitive apprehension occurred on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge. A CBP officer at primary processing queried subject Andrew Morstrain, a 22-year-old-male United States citizen, who appeared to have an active warrant.
After escorting the passenger to secondary, subsequent biometric verification through law enforcement databases confirmed that the subject had an outstanding warrant for capital murder out of Little Rock, Arkansas.
The warrant was confirmed to be active. CBP turned custody to the U.S. Marshals for transport the Webb County jail.
The National Crime Information Center (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.
Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
CBP Field Operations Seizes Over 1,500 Pounds of Marijuana Concealed Within a Commercial Trailer
NO APPREHENSION OR ARREST REPORTED
Release Date: May 24, 2018
Packages containing 1,659 pounds of marijuana seized by CBP officers at Pharr International Bridge. Photo by CBP.PHARR, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility discovered 1,659 pounds of alleged marijuana within a commercial trailer.
“Our officers’ vigilance and relentless dedication to the CBP mission resulted in this substantial narcotic seizure,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
The seizure occurred on May 21, when CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility encountered a white 1995 Volvo tractor-trailer.
After the conveyance was referred for a secondary inspection, CBP officers utilized a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system to locate the narcotics. CBP officers extracted 431 packages containing a total of 1,659 pounds of alleged marijuana concealed within the commercial trailer.
CBP OFO seized the drugs, valued at approximately $331,792. The case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations special agents.
