May 4, 2016
Border Report
Border Patrol catches body-carrier with heroin
TUCSON, Ariz. – Border Patrol agents working at the I-19 checkpoint Tuesday night arrested a woman found with heroin, valued at almost $116,000, on her body.
After agents referred a Ford sedan to the secondary inspection area, the driver and a female passenger, Brisseth Karina Gallardo-Ruiz, exited the vehicle for an immigration inspection. Agents then discovered that Gallardo-Ruiz, a 22-year-old U.S. citizen, was concealing two packages of heroin with a combined weight of 6.65 lbs. Gallardo-Ruiz will be presented for prosecution on narcotics-smuggling charges.
So far in Fiscal Year 2016, Tucson Sector has seized approximately 33 pounds of heroin.
Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Checkpoint operations play a vital role in preventing criminals from transporting people, drugs and other contraband further into the United States. CBP welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.
Border Patrol Agents arrest more than 40, seize nearly a ton of drugs over the weekend
YUMA, Ariz. – It was another big weekend for Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents, as they arrested 43 illegal aliens and seized nearly a ton of marijuana, with an estimated value approaching one million dollars.
In the early hours of the weekend, Border Patrol agents patrolling the Sonoran Desert arrested seven Mexican nationals, and seized 235 pounds of marijuana they had smuggled into the country near Gila Bend. More than 350 pounds of abandoned marijuana was later located in separate incidents in the same area.
Three separate incidents near Camp Grip, Yuma Sector’s forward operating base, led to the arrest of more than 30 illegal aliens attempting to smuggle nearly 1,400 pounds of marijuana into the U.S.
Agents also foiled smuggling attempts at two of Yuma Sector’s immigration checkpoints. The first attempt was in Blythe, Calif, on Highway 78, where a U.S. citizen was arrested for attempting to smuggle an illegal alien further into the country. A records check revealed he had an active warrant out of Modesto, Calif. for fraud.
The second incident occurred at the Interstate 8 checkpoint, east of Yuma, when a Mexican national, illegally in the U.S., was arrested for fraudulently using another person’s valid U.S. passport. A conviction of someone falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.
All persons, drugs and vehicles will be processed per Yuma Sector guidelines. Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents can be reached by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll-free to report suspicious activity. Callers can remain anonymous.
Border Patrol Agent narrowly escapes injury, driver arrested, marijuana seized after pursuit
TUCSON, Ariz. – A Tucson Sector Border Patrol agent narrowly escaped injury after a U.S citizen made an alleged attempt to run him over Saturday at a checkpoint in southern Arizona.
Agents working at the Federal Route 15 checkpoint south of Casa Grande, Arizona encountered a Dodge pick-up truck and referred the driver to a secondary inspection lane after a canine alerted to the vehicle. Instead, the driver ignored the instructions and accelerated directly at the agent.
The agent was able to deploy a spike strip while simultaneously evading the oncoming vehicle, successfully deflating two of the truck’s tires. Unfazed, however, the driver continued to flee.
Agents pursued the vehicle for 30 miles on Federal Route 15 until other agents deployed a second spike strip, which deflated the remaining two tires. With the truck inoperable, the driver then attempted to evade agents on foot but was immediately apprehended. A subsequent search of the truck uncovered two bales of marijuana, weighing nearly 56 pounds and worth approximately $27,800.
Agents later conducted a biometric records check that identified the driver as a U.S citizen; on parole from the Arizona Department of Corrections. The subject is now in custody and faces charges relating to the drugs, assault and ensuing pursuit.
"The agent showed incredible fortitude, maintaining the presence of mind to deploy spike strips in an attempt to prevent the driver from inflicting harm to others," said Tucson Sector Chief Paul Beeson. "The agent’s quick thinking and composure reinforces the importance of utilizing safe tactics and the necessity for our agents to remain vigilant at all times."
Recent statistics released by Customs and Border Protection show that Tucson Sector accounted for more than 20 percent of all assaults on agents recorded by the U.S. Border Patrol in 2015.
Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free.
Wellton Station Border Patrol Agents Arrest 58 Aliens, Seize More Than $600,000 in Marijuana
YUMA, Ariz. –Wellton Station Border Patrol agents arrested 58 illegal aliens and seized 1,225 pounds of marijuana in the Sonoran Desert May 1 and during the early morning hours May 2.
Two of those arrested had illegally re-entered the country while smuggling 218 pounds of marijuana into the U.S. Both men were previously deported and were in violation of supervised release.
They will be transported back to prison to complete their sentences.
Three men were discovered hiding in the trunk of a vehicle as it attempted to pass through the immigration checkpoint on Interstate 8. Two of the men are Mexican nationals; the third is Salvadoran. The driver, a U.S. citizen, will be prosecuted for felony alien smuggling.
Out of the 58 illegal aliens, the largest group arrested consisted of 21 men interdicted while smuggling 843 pounds of marijuana. Fourteen of the smugglers are Mexicans; four are Hondurans; two Salvadorans; and one Guatemalan.
Agents also found 164 pounds of abandoned marijuana yesterday morning.
All drugs were seized, and all arrested individuals will be submitted for prosecution per Yuma Sector guidelines.
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents can be reached by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll-free to report suspicious activity. Callers can remain anonymous.
