Border Patrol takes $1.2 million in illicit drugs off the streets
In separate drug smuggling incidents, Border Patrol agents working at the Interstate 8 and 5 checkpoints thwarted a pair of marijuana and cocaine smuggling attempts. The agents confirmed the seizure of cocaine and marijuana had an estimated street value of $1,196,445.
Yesterday, Border Patrol agents encountered a female 59-year-old U.S. citizen driving a BMW passing through the I-8 checkpoint just east of San Diego. The woman’s anxious and jumpy behavior concerned agents and they referred her to the checkpoint’s secondary inspection zone.
“A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert,” according to Scott Simon, of the San Diego Border Patrol. “Agents searched the vehicle and discovered 40 bundles of cocaine in a non-factory compartment under the front floorboard. The cocaine weighed 117.55 pounds and had an estimated street value of $1,175,500.”
A second incident unfolded at the I-5 checkpoint north of San Diego near Camp Pendleton Marine base. A 22-year-old male Mexican national arrived at the checkpoint shortly after noon driving a Ford Windstar. After the Border Patrol K-9 team inspected the minivan, agents were alerted to a concealed compartment that stored 11 bundles of marijuana.
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Border Patrol agents searched the minivan, “and discovered six bundles of marijuana in the passenger-side, rear-quarter panel and five bundles in the spare tire located under the vehicle. The marijuana weighed a total of 41.89 pounds and had an estimated street value of $20,945.”
The U.S. Border Patrol seized both vehicles used in the narcotic smuggling incidents. The suspected smugglers, and their narcotics in both incidents were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for further investigation,” according to a CBP statement.
To report suspicious activity call the San Diego Border Patrol at (619) 498-9900.
© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
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Border Patrol confiscates $1 million in crystal meth at checkpoint
Border Patrol agents assigned to an Interstate 15 checkpoint north of San Diego intercepted two smuggling endeavors this week that resulted in the seizure of 51.25 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $1 million.
First, Border Patrol agents stopped a 40-year-old male U.S citizen at the I-15 checkpoint. After agents detected the man’s nervous demeanor the Border Patrol K-9 team to complete an inspection of the vehicle.
According to a BP press statement from Michael Jimenez, “The canine team alerted to the vehicle. A subsequent vehicle search revealed 31 bundles of methamphetamine hidden in the rear quarter panels. The seized narcotics weighed more than 38 pounds with an estimated street value of $762,800.”
A second seizure at the I-15 checkpoint netted even more crystal methamphetamine. Agents stopped a Jeep Cherokee towing a Toyota Solara on a trailer. Border Patrol referred a 31-year-old male Mexican national driver to a secondary inspection area.
“Agents summoned a Border Patrol K-9 team to perform a cursory inspection of the vehicles. The canine team alerted to one of the vehicles,” a press release said. “A subsequent search of the vehicles revealed 25 bundles of methamphetamine hidden in the gas tank of the towed vehicle. The narcotics seizure weighed more than 13 pounds with an estimated street value of $262,200.”
In both cases, the suspected drug smugglers and narcotics were handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for further investigation. The U.S. Border Patrol confiscated all three vehicles and the trailer.
To report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.
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© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
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CBP chase leaves one suspect dead and sends an agent to the hospital
An unidentified man driving a car with Texas plates is dead today after Border Patrol agents pursued the driver for failing to stop at an east San Diego County CBP checkpoint.
Authorities said the driver came under suspicion when Border Patrol agents observed the car travelling down the road in the wrong direction. Agents were able to stop the vehicle using a spike strip that deflated the fleeing car’s tires.
However, when Border Patrol attempted to question the driver, the suspect locked the car doors preventing agents from questioning the man.
Once the vehicle came to a stop, one Border Patrol agent attempted to break the car’s window, when the vehicle burst into flames killing the driver and injuring the agent.
As a result of the explosion, an unnamed Border Patrol agent was airlifted to an area hospital and treated for lacerations and burns.
A CBP statement said, “Agents had stopped a car that was reported to have been driving on the wrong side of Interstate 8.”
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The vehicle ignited while the agent was standing near the driver side door. The driver of the car died at the scene. The agent was transported to the hospital and is being treated for non-life threatening injuries,” said Jenny Burke.
CBP authorities said they were working with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department to investigate the early morning car explosion.
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© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
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Border Patrol agents arrest wanted sex offender after brief chase Continue reading on Examiner.com Border Patrol agents arrest wanted sex offender af
Border Patrol agents apprehended a convicted sex offender after he fled from an Interstate 15 checkpoint just north of San Diego.
Agents said the suspect failed to stop at the checkpoint, and then lead Border Patrol on a high-speed chase. Once agents gained custody of the individual they found out he was wanted in Pinal County, Arizona for parole violations.
“Agents assigned to enforcement duties along the northbound Interstate 15 attempted to stop a 40-year-old male United States citizen driving a blue 1998 Ford F-150 near Highway 76,” according to Border Patrol agent Simon Scott. “The driver failed to yield and led agents on a high-speed chase with speeds reaching 90 miles per hour. Agents discontinued the pursuit after the suspect drove southbound on the shoulder of the northbound I-15 endangering the motoring public. Agents located the individual’s vehicle minutes later when his vehicle became stuck after he drove off-road.”
The assailant then fled his vehicle on foot but was captured by Border Patrol agents a short time later.
“Agents ran record checks and determined that the suspect was a registered sex offender in Pinal County, Ariz., wanted for parole violations,” Scott said. “The suspect was booked into San Diego County jail for high speed flight from an Executive Officer.”
To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.
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© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
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DHS promises US-VISIT biometric data program will slow illegal entry
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the implementation of US-VISIT, a biometric program that will monitor entry/exit patterns for international travelers. The program will keep tabs on foreign visitors and curtail visa over-stayers.
US-VISIT’s use of biometrics streamlines the U.S. entry process and DHS officials say it virtually eliminates fraud. The biometrics program collects unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, that provide port-of-entry agents with automated recognition. This tamper-proof identification service is reliable, convenient and virtually impossible to forge.
“US-VISIT supports the Department of Homeland Security’s mission to protect our nation by providing biometric identification services to federal, state and local government decision makers to help them accurately identify the people they encounter and determine whether those people pose a risk to the United States,” a DHS statement said. “US-VISIT’s most visible service is the collection of biometrics—digital fingerprints and a photograph—from international travelers at U.S. visa-issuing posts and ports of entry. Collecting this information helps immigration officers determine whether a person is eligible to receive a visa or enter the United States. The biometric collection process is simple, convenient and secure.”
The new program provides port-of-entry decision makers with the reliable information they need to prevent identity fraud. The innovative use of biometrics also deprives criminals and immigration violators’ access to the United States. DHS also claims they will be able to track international travelers who remain in the country beyond their period of admission using this biometric data.
“Since 911 we’ve gotten better at the check-in counter, but have not had a reliable method of knowing who is checking-out,” said Bob Dane, Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).“The new plan for a biometric system of tracking exits is long overdue and will reduce the incidence of people overstaying their visas, the risk of terrorism and illegal immigration overall.”
However, secure border activists’ groups argue that ports of entry may provide a higher level of scrutiny, but much of the U.S./Mexico border remains unfenced. Border Patrol agents are charged with protecting the nation’s rural border, however, slower response times due to rugged terrain, limit the number of illegal immigrants, terrorists and drug smuggler apprehensions. Also this new program will do nothing to the country’s porious border. Even when Border Patrol responds to an incursion, agents face danger. Last year an illegal drug smuggler inside American borders murdered Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
How Biometrics Assure Identity
Biometrics collected by US-VISIT and linked to specific biographic information enable a person’s identity to be established, then verified, by the U.S. government. With each encounter, from applying for a visa to seeking immigration benefits to entering the United States, US-VISIT:
Checks a person’s biometrics against a watch list of known or suspected terrorists, criminals and immigration violators
Checks against the entire database of all of the fingerprints the Department of Homeland Security has collected since US-VISIT began to determine if a person is using an alias and attempting to use fraudulent identification.
Checks a person’s biometrics against those associated with the identification document presented to ensure that the document belongs to the person presenting it and not someone else.
These services help prevent identity fraud and deprive criminals and immigration violators of the ability to cross U.S. borders. Based on biometrics alone, US-VISIT has helped stop thousands of people who were ineligible to enter the United States.
To view the step-by-step video that explains the process click here; http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/editorial_0525.shtm
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© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
CBP Agents seize Mexican-panga boat in Malibu loaded with pot
CBP agents apprehended illegal drug smugglers when they attempted to come ashore in the upscale community of Malibu. Officers immediately arrested three Mexican nationals following the interdiction when agents spotted numerous bales of marijuana.
The weekend bust made by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confiscated approximately one-and-a-half tons of weed wrapped in cellophane.
CBP stated that they were working with the California National Guard when they spotted the panga-like vessel cruising slowly along the coastline. The National Guard unit alerted Border Patrol agents and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs, who responded to the Point Dume State Beach after midnight.
According to agents on the scene, the three men who illegally entered the U.S. were arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and will face multiple charges. The weight of the marijuana totaled 2,575 pounds and an estimated street value of $1, 287, 500.
“The Department of Homeland Security has increased coastal-border security in Southern California (as) transnational criminal organizations have shifted their smuggling tactics further north into Los Angeles and Ventura Counties,” Scott E. Simon,U.S. Border Patrol Agent for the San Diego Sector Information and Communication Division said. “As a result, CBP and its partners have intensified efforts to target the illegal activity, expanding the use of marine patrols, land-based surveillance, and collaboration with the Government of Mexico.”
These multi-agency task forces are a key component to interdict maritime drug smugglers along California’s 840-mile coastline.
The CBP logged 26 unauthorized maritime smuggling attempts during fiscal year 2011 in the Los Angeles/Ventura area. So far this year, 2012, the multi-agency CBP task force has recorded 14 maritime incidents along the southern California beaches, including three in Ventura County and one in Santa Barbara County.
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© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Border Patrol seizes nearly $1 million worth of illegal drugs in San Diego
Over the weekend, San Diego Border Patrol agents snagged more than $930,000 worth of cocaine, marijuana, and crystal methamphetamine.
“On Saturday, agents assigned to the Interstate 8 checkpoint near Pine Valley arrested a 26-year-old male United States citizen for attempting to smuggle 61.91 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $619, 058,” Scott E. Simon, Border Patrol Agent for the San Diego Sector Communication Division said.
Simon said the drugs were discovered at the checkpoint’s secondary inspection area by K-9 dogs. The illicit drugs were located in a secret floorboard compartment.
“Our agents searched the vehicle (a BMW X5) and discovered 25 cellophane-wrapped brick-shaped bundles in natural voids beneath seats. The suspected smuggler and cocaine were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to a multi-agency drug task force,” Simon said.
In a separate incident, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 15 checkpoint stopped a Mexican national driving a Ford pickup. Again, it was a K-9 team that located illicit drugs.
“Agents searched and subsequently discovered a non-factory compartment beneath the bed of the truck in which 30 bundles of marijuana were concealed. The drugs weighed a total of 313.83 pounds and had an estimated street value of $156, 915,” according to Border Patrol.
Border Patrol agents arrested and turned over all the suspected drug smugglers to the proper authorities. All of the vehicles were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.
Anyone with information regarding suspicious activity is encouraged to contact the San Diego Border Patrol at (619) 498-9900.
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© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Border Patrol confiscates more than $617,000 of Methamphetamine drugs
Border Patrol agents working north of San Diego at the Interstate 15 checkpoint nabbed two narcotic smugglers carrying 30 pounds of methamphetamine.
The agents stopped a male 20-year-old U.S. citizen driving a black Hummer H3 along with a 21-year-old male U. S. citizen passenger as they arrived at the freeway checkpoint. During the inspection process, BP agents became suspicious of the occupant’s nervous behavior and referred them to a secondary inspection area.
“A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in a positive alert,” said Scott Simon, Border Patrol Agent in the San Diego Sector Information and Communication Division.“Agents searched the vehicle and discovered a non-factory compartment in the rear cargo deck concealing a total of 20 bundles of methamphetamine.”
The illegal narcotics weighed approximately 31 pounds and had an estimated street value of $617,400, officials said. “The suspected smugglers and narcotics were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation. The Hummer H3 was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol,” Simon finished.
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In an effort to prevent illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and contraband, the Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on major U.S. corridors away from the nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.
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© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
47 pounds of cocaine snagged by San Diego Border Patrol
U.S. Border Patrol agents snagged 47 pounds of cocaine just east of San Diego at the Interstate 8 checkpoint.
Yesterday Border Patrol agents encountered a 43-year-old male Mexican national driving a X3 BMW at the Pine Valley checkpoint, agents found the driver’s demeanor suspicious and sent the car to the secondary inspection station.
During the examination of the BMW, a Border Patrol K-9 team alerted agents to a positive alert inside the driver’s side door. The Border Patrol Agents searched the vehicle and found 20 bundles of cocaine concealed inside of the rocker panels on both sides of the vehicle, according to Scott E. Simon, Border Patrol Agent for the San Diego Sector Information & Communication Division.
“The cocaine weighed a total 47.09 pounds and had an estimated street value of $470,900,” Simon said. “The suspected smuggler and narcotics were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation. The BMW was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.”
To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.
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© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
The holiday season doesn’t slow Mexican cartels from smuggling illicit drugs
It may be the Yuletide season, but that hasn’t stopped drug smugglers from wanting to earn some extra Christmas cash. This week in San Diego, Border Patrol agents played Grinch and snatched nearly $700,000 worth of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.
Yesterday, Border Patrol agents, patrolling along Interstate 15 stopped a 28-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a pickup truck. After the stop, agents called a Border Patrol K-9 team to conduct a cursory inspection of the vehicle. The K-9 positively alerted agents to the interior of the truck where agents discovered five bundles of methamphetamine in a black trash bag. “The total weight of the meth was 12.02 pounds and worth an estimated $240,400,” according to Border Patrol Agent Scott Simon.
In a separate bust, Border Patrol agents at the Interstate 8 checkpoint just east of San Diego, arrested a 23-year-old male Mexican national for smuggling 3.53 pounds of heroin worth $45,890 in the soles of two pairs of dress shoes.
“Agents encountered the individual while performing an immigration inspection of a commercial bus travelling to San Diego,” Scott said. “During inspection, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor and referred him for a secondary inspection. A Border Patrol K-9 team alerted to the man’s luggage, where agents discovered packages of heroin hidden inside of a pair of brown shoes. Agents also located similar packages inside of a pair of black shoes the man was wearing.”
At the same I-8 checkpoint, Border Patrol detained a 39-year-old male U.S. citizen for attempting to smuggle 39.68 pounds of cocaine. The nervous driver was sent to secondary inspection, where a K-9 team led agents to the gas tank. Inside the tank, Border Patrol found 15 bundles of cocaine worth an estimated street value of $396,800.
All the suspected smugglers and $683,000 worth of narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and two pickup trucks were seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.
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© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
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