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Border News
Published 05/12/2012 - 11:50 a.m. CST
EDINBURG, TX — U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley
Sector confiscated more than $12 million worth of marijuana in
multiple seizures over the past few days.
The group of smugglers fled to Mexico abandoning the pickup and nearly 1,900 pounds of marijuana.
The largest seizure occurred early Tuesday morning near La Casita, when agents saw several people loading large bundles of marijuana into a pickup truck. As the agents approached, the group of smugglers fled to Mexico - abandoning the pickup and nearly 1,900 pounds of marijuana.
Another large seizure occurred later that evening near Garceno. Agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station were patrolling the area when they saw an approaching pickup truck make an abrupt U-turn and head back south.
The group of smugglers fled to Mexico abandoning the pickup and nearly 1,900 pounds of marijuana.
The largest seizure occurred early Tuesday morning near La Casita, when agents saw several people loading large bundles of marijuana into a pickup truck. As the agents approached, the group of smugglers fled to Mexico - abandoning the pickup and nearly 1,900 pounds of marijuana.
Another large seizure occurred later that evening near Garceno. Agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station were patrolling the area when they saw an approaching pickup truck make an abrupt U-turn and head back south.
Published 05/12/2012 - 6:52 a.m. CST
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The United States borders a de facto war zone where arguably more people are killed than in Afghanistan and other nations experiencing brutality and murder. Photo credit: Police Times Magazine
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Mexican police discovered the dismembered bodies of at least 15
victims in two separate vehicles that were abandoned Thursday on a
state highway in Jalisco, Mexico, according to a Law Enforcement
Examiner source within the U.S. narcotics enforcement
community.
According to the source, police acting on a tip from an informant found the bodies in two abandoned vans parked alongside a motel on the highway to Chapala, a popular weekend retreat only a few miles from the state capital of Guadalajara.
Mexican officials said they also found a note signed by an organized crime group called the Zetas.
The bodies were immediately taken to Jalisco's Institute of Forensic Science in Guadalajara for autopsies and forensic examinations.
According to the source, police acting on a tip from an informant found the bodies in two abandoned vans parked alongside a motel on the highway to Chapala, a popular weekend retreat only a few miles from the state capital of Guadalajara.
Mexican officials said they also found a note signed by an organized crime group called the Zetas.
The bodies were immediately taken to Jalisco's Institute of Forensic Science in Guadalajara for autopsies and forensic examinations.
Published 05/09/2012 - 4:44 p.m. CST
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) Tuesday announced the designation of four key Sinaloa Cartel
operatives, including two sons of Sinaloa drug lord Joaquin “Chapo”
Guzman Loera. Tuesday’s action, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics
Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act), prohibits U.S. persons from
conducting financial or commercial transactions with these four
individuals, and also freezes any assets they may have under U.S.
jurisdiction.
This action would not have been possible without the support of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “In order to put organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel out of business, we must continue to utilize every tool available to ensure that these criminal groups and their associates cannot exploit the U.S. financial system,” said DEA Chief of Financial Operations John Arvanitis. “DEA is attacking the Sinaloa Cartel and other organizations at every level like never before, so they are put out of business and their leaders are brought to justice.”
This action would not have been possible without the support of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “In order to put organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel out of business, we must continue to utilize every tool available to ensure that these criminal groups and their associates cannot exploit the U.S. financial system,” said DEA Chief of Financial Operations John Arvanitis. “DEA is attacking the Sinaloa Cartel and other organizations at every level like never before, so they are put out of business and their leaders are brought to justice.”
Published 05/04/2012 - 6:47 a.m. CST
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The dismembered remains of two Mexican photojournalists were
discovered in Vera Cruz in Eastern Mexico by federal police
(Federales) yesterday, making the total of news people murdered in
that nation in the last ten years 70 men and women, according to a
U.S. law enforcement official assigned to liaison duty in that
war-torn nation.
The mutilated bodies of Guillermo Luna and Gabriel Huge were found in pieces inside plastic garbage bags and dumped in a canal in the Vera Cruz town of Boca del Rio, the law enforcement official -- who requires anonymity -- told the Law Enforcement Examiner.
Police officers and crime scene technicians also discovered another two corpses that were dumped in the same canal, but they haven't as yet been identified.
The Calderon administration said in a statement that the killings bore the hallmarks of Mexico's drug cartels, and federal investigators are pursuing the case instead of local police.
The mutilated bodies of Guillermo Luna and Gabriel Huge were found in pieces inside plastic garbage bags and dumped in a canal in the Vera Cruz town of Boca del Rio, the law enforcement official -- who requires anonymity -- told the Law Enforcement Examiner.
Police officers and crime scene technicians also discovered another two corpses that were dumped in the same canal, but they haven't as yet been identified.
The Calderon administration said in a statement that the killings bore the hallmarks of Mexico's drug cartels, and federal investigators are pursuing the case instead of local police.
Published 05/01/2012 - 6:50 a.m. CST
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GOP lawmakers say that the President is drastically reducing enforcement of the nation's immigration laws. Photo credit: DHS/CBP
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) on Friday implemented several changes to weaken
their Secure Communities Program, an initiative that keeps American
neighborhoods safe by identifying illegal and criminal immigrants in
police custody who have been arrested and fingerprinted, according to
House GOP lawmakers.
Among these changes, ICE will not take enforcement action against those charged with minor traffic violations if they have not been previously convicted of other crimes. This means that an illegal immigrant previously arrested for a serious crime, such as murder or rape, but not convicted would be cut loose under ICE’s new policy.
ICE also indicates that it could punish states and localities that are serious about the enforcement of federal immigration law by reviewing the number of illegal immigrants identified by Secure Communities in each jurisdiction and possibly taking action if the number is too high.
Among these changes, ICE will not take enforcement action against those charged with minor traffic violations if they have not been previously convicted of other crimes. This means that an illegal immigrant previously arrested for a serious crime, such as murder or rape, but not convicted would be cut loose under ICE’s new policy.
ICE also indicates that it could punish states and localities that are serious about the enforcement of federal immigration law by reviewing the number of illegal immigrants identified by Secure Communities in each jurisdiction and possibly taking action if the number is too high.
Published 04/18/2012 - 4:36 p.m. CST
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The discovery of dismembered bodies stuffed in plastic bags is an all too common occurrence in Mexico. Photo credit: Police One Magazine
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Mexican police officers yesterday discovered dismembered bodies packed
into plastic garbage bags left inside an abandoned van, according to
the Law Enforcement Examiner's U.S. drug enforcement
source.
What appeared to be the remains of 14 male victims were found in Mexico's northern border city of Nuevo Laredo and federal police investigators said the killings are probably linked to the drug war being fought by opposing cartels.
According to officials, police officers received a telephoned report describing an abandoned truck in the city. A search of the van revealed 10 black plastic bags containing the remains of 14 male bodies, in their early-to-mid 30s.
What appeared to be the remains of 14 male victims were found in Mexico's northern border city of Nuevo Laredo and federal police investigators said the killings are probably linked to the drug war being fought by opposing cartels.
According to officials, police officers received a telephoned report describing an abandoned truck in the city. A search of the van revealed 10 black plastic bags containing the remains of 14 male bodies, in their early-to-mid 30s.
Published 04/15/2012 - 6:07 a.m. CST
BROWNSVILLE, TX- U.S.
Customs and Border Protection
officers at the Veterans’ port of entry
intercepted a woman and her
boyfriend for alleged violations of immigration
law. The United
States citizen allegedly attempted to facilitate a Mexican
child’s
entry into the United States without valid entry documents.
Published 04/12/2012 - 6:13 a.m. CST
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Members of Los Zetas pose with their drugs and weapons following their arrests by Mexican special ops police. Photo credit: DEA/DoJ File Photo
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Law enforcement sources in the United States claim that recent
intelligence reports are providing evidence that a formal alliance
exists between the Salvadorian-based Mara Salvatrucha -- better known
in the U.S. as MS-13 -- and the equally dangerous and bloodthirsty Los
Zetas, the most feared criminal organization in Mexico.
This latest development throws a curve ball at U.S. law enforcement efforts to assist the Mexicans and other Latin American nations fight the organized crime syndicates who traffic in narcotics that is earmarked for the United States and European nations.
According to a Law Enforcement Examiner source working on intelligence analysis for a federal law enforcement agency, there are signs that MS-13 members are exchanging their most valuable asset -- intelligence on governments' anti-drug operations -- for Los Zeta's military training, some of which was gained when members were part of Mexico's federal police and military.
This latest development throws a curve ball at U.S. law enforcement efforts to assist the Mexicans and other Latin American nations fight the organized crime syndicates who traffic in narcotics that is earmarked for the United States and European nations.
According to a Law Enforcement Examiner source working on intelligence analysis for a federal law enforcement agency, there are signs that MS-13 members are exchanging their most valuable asset -- intelligence on governments' anti-drug operations -- for Los Zeta's military training, some of which was gained when members were part of Mexico's federal police and military.
Published 04/06/2012 - 10:13 a.m. CST
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers
recently seized 63 pounds of cocaine inside a container of energy
drinks arriving from the Dominican Republic.
On April 3, CBP officers in San Juan randomly selected a container on board M/V Freemantle Express, arriving from Caucedo, Dominican Republic, for inspection. The container cargo was manifested as energy drinks. When CBP officers examined the shipment, one duffle bag containing 25 brick shaped objects was found inside the container. The bricks field tested positive for cocaine with an estimated street value of $627,000.
Custody of the duffle bag and the 25 bricks was transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
On April 3, CBP officers in San Juan randomly selected a container on board M/V Freemantle Express, arriving from Caucedo, Dominican Republic, for inspection. The container cargo was manifested as energy drinks. When CBP officers examined the shipment, one duffle bag containing 25 brick shaped objects was found inside the container. The bricks field tested positive for cocaine with an estimated street value of $627,000.
Custody of the duffle bag and the 25 bricks was transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
Published 05/07/2012 - 10:24 a.m. CST
Mexican government officials blasted the U.S. government for "failing
to prosecute a Border Patrol agent" who admitted he shot an illegal
alien at the U.S.-Mexican border nearly two years ago. An
investigation revealed that the agent was being assaulted with rocks
thrown by a gang of Mexicans, according to a legal watchdog group
based in the nation's capital.
The controversial shooting incident occurred in the summer of 2010 when the federal agent, Jesus Mesa, spotted a group of Mexicans crossing the Rio Grande near El Paso. U.S. authorities say Mesa fatally shot a teen (Sergio Hernández-Guereca) traveling with the group in self-defense after the teen and his friends threw rocks at the agent, according to Judicial Watch.
Last year a Texas judge dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government but allowed a lawsuit against the agent to proceed.
The controversial shooting incident occurred in the summer of 2010 when the federal agent, Jesus Mesa, spotted a group of Mexicans crossing the Rio Grande near El Paso. U.S. authorities say Mesa fatally shot a teen (Sergio Hernández-Guereca) traveling with the group in self-defense after the teen and his friends threw rocks at the agent, according to Judicial Watch.
Last year a Texas judge dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government but allowed a lawsuit against the agent to proceed.
Published 05/03/2012 - 6:20 a.m. CST
CBP Officers at LAX seized 5,700 Pounds of Methamphetamine
Precursor
LOS ANGELES, CA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s
(CBP) aggressive enforcement posture against Mexican drug trafficking
organizations continue bringing record-breaking drugs seizures beyond
the land border, at U.S. airports and seaports.
CBP officers at an air cargo consignment facility of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) seized two shipments of 80 bags, containing 5,700 pounds of methylamine chloride, a known chemical that is used as a precursor to methamphetamine. If used to make methamphetamine, the street value of this seizure is $40 million.
The shipments arrived from China on April 19 and 23, with a final destination in central Mexico. Samples of the white powdery chemical were positively identified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as methylamine chloride, a List 1 controlled substance.
LOS ANGELES, CA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s
(CBP) aggressive enforcement posture against Mexican drug trafficking
organizations continue bringing record-breaking drugs seizures beyond
the land border, at U.S. airports and seaports.CBP officers at an air cargo consignment facility of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) seized two shipments of 80 bags, containing 5,700 pounds of methylamine chloride, a known chemical that is used as a precursor to methamphetamine. If used to make methamphetamine, the street value of this seizure is $40 million.
The shipments arrived from China on April 19 and 23, with a final destination in central Mexico. Samples of the white powdery chemical were positively identified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as methylamine chloride, a List 1 controlled substance.
Published 04/29/2012 - 11:51 a.m. CST
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Hernandez-Guereca crime scene following the altercation between U.S. border agents and Mexican illegal aliens. Photo credit: Police Times Magazine
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A U.S. border patrol agent and his family were relieved on Friday when
they were informed that the agent won't be prosecuted for shooting and
killing a Mexican teenager on the banks of the Rio Grande on June 7,
2010, according to a press statement from the U.S. Attorney General's
office.
Justice Department officials said in a news release that its "comprehensive and thorough investigation" determined there was "insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal charges."
The Justice Department also concluded that no federal civil rights charges could be pursued in this matter. Under the applicable civil rights statutes, prosecutors must establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a law enforcement officer willfully deprived an individual of a constitutional right, meaning with the deliberate and specific intent to do something the law forbids. This is the highest standard of intent imposed by law.
Justice Department officials said in a news release that its "comprehensive and thorough investigation" determined there was "insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal charges."
The Justice Department also concluded that no federal civil rights charges could be pursued in this matter. Under the applicable civil rights statutes, prosecutors must establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a law enforcement officer willfully deprived an individual of a constitutional right, meaning with the deliberate and specific intent to do something the law forbids. This is the highest standard of intent imposed by law.
Published 04/17/2012 - 9:39 a.m. CST
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"Obama is never at a loss for words. It's successful action he lacks," said one federal law enforcement commander. Photo credit: DoS File Photo
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Near the conclusion of the America's Summit on Sunday, Mexico's
beleaguered President, Felipe Calderon, called for all countries
represented at the two-day meeting to fight illegal drug use and to
stop arms exports to organized crime gangs such as Los Zetas drug
cartel.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas held in Cartegena, Colombia, Calderon stated he's requesting intensifying programs that are geared towards reducing drug consumption in the nations that are mostly consumers, especially the United States. He also requested an end to the trafficking of arms to Latin American nations.
"Calderon, who frequently chastises the United States in front of American politicians who never defend their own country or U.S. citizens, blamed U.S. banks for the money laundering that boosts criminals' violence and power," said former police detective now security director Manuel Cardoza.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas held in Cartegena, Colombia, Calderon stated he's requesting intensifying programs that are geared towards reducing drug consumption in the nations that are mostly consumers, especially the United States. He also requested an end to the trafficking of arms to Latin American nations.
"Calderon, who frequently chastises the United States in front of American politicians who never defend their own country or U.S. citizens, blamed U.S. banks for the money laundering that boosts criminals' violence and power," said former police detective now security director Manuel Cardoza.
Published 04/12/2012 - 7:32 a.m. CST
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Deputy CBP Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski delivers remarks during the groundbreaking for the South Texas Border Intelligence Center held Wednesday in Laredo, Texas.
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LAREDO, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Deputy
Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski and CBP South Texas Commander Robert
L. Harris together with Laredo Sector Border Patrol and other federal,
state and local officials broke ground Wednesday on the South Texas
Border Intelligence Center, a facility designed to intensify and
integrate intelligence gathering and sharing activity among law
enforcement agencies across South Texas.
“Information sharing among law enforcement at the federal, state and local level is essential to effective border security,” said Acting Deputy Commissioner Winkowski. “This new multi-agency facility will integrate intelligence operations among South Texas law enforcement agencies and help drive enforcement operations at all levels to meet and engage emerging threats from transnational criminal organizations and to combat terrorism.”
“Information sharing among law enforcement at the federal, state and local level is essential to effective border security,” said Acting Deputy Commissioner Winkowski. “This new multi-agency facility will integrate intelligence operations among South Texas law enforcement agencies and help drive enforcement operations at all levels to meet and engage emerging threats from transnational criminal organizations and to combat terrorism.”
Published 04/10/2012 - 2:37 p.m. CST
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EDINBURG, TX – In multiple seizures over five days last week, U.S.
Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector seized an
estimated $8.2 million worth of narcotics.
One of the most significant seizures occurred Tuesday near La Rosita, Texas, when agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station observed several men loading a truck with bundles of marijuana. As agents approached, the driver of the truck attempted to abandon the load but he was quickly apprehended. Agents found nearly 1,000 pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle. The suspect and drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Another notable seizure took place Tuesday near Roma, Texas. Agents on patrol encountered a traffic accident involving two vehicles. As agents approached to offer assistance, they observed bundles consistent with narcotics in one of the vehicles. The driver of that vehicle sped away when he saw the agents.
One of the most significant seizures occurred Tuesday near La Rosita, Texas, when agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station observed several men loading a truck with bundles of marijuana. As agents approached, the driver of the truck attempted to abandon the load but he was quickly apprehended. Agents found nearly 1,000 pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle. The suspect and drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Another notable seizure took place Tuesday near Roma, Texas. Agents on patrol encountered a traffic accident involving two vehicles. As agents approached to offer assistance, they observed bundles consistent with narcotics in one of the vehicles. The driver of that vehicle sped away when he saw the agents.
Published 04/06/2012 - 8:11 a.m. CST
1,814 Pounds of Marijuana Concealed in Rolls of Roofing
Paper
EL PASO, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized just less than one ton of marijuana Tuesday. The seizure was made at the Ysleta international crossing commercial cargo facility.
“CBP officers process thousands of commercial trucks in El Paso every day without incident however this seizure shows that we must remain vigilant because smugglers will try to any available means and method to cross their illegal goods into the U.S.,” said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Port Director.
EL PASO, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized just less than one ton of marijuana Tuesday. The seizure was made at the Ysleta international crossing commercial cargo facility.
“CBP officers process thousands of commercial trucks in El Paso every day without incident however this seizure shows that we must remain vigilant because smugglers will try to any available means and method to cross their illegal goods into the U.S.,” said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Port Director.
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