Border Patrol Agents Seize Over One Ton Of Narcotics Overnight

DEMING, N.M. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents from the El Paso sector made three significant drug seizures of marijuana on September 19th, 2007 totaling 2,077 pounds valued at nearly $1.7 million.

The largest seizure involved 1,632 pounds of marijuana in the Deming area. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Deming, N.M. station observed a late model Chevrolet pick-up enter the United States illegally after it breached the vehicle barrier near the United States / Mexico International Boundary Thursday. The truck then traveled north on a farm road toward New Mexico State Road 9. Agents encountered the vehicle on the road heading west. The vehicle made an abrupt U-turn and headed in the opposite direction toward Mexico. After running into a permanent vehicle barrier, the truck was disabled and two subjects from the vehicle absconded into Mexico. A search of the truck by agents revealed 1,632 pounds of marijuana inside. A records check on the vehicle showed it was reported stolen on September 9, 2007. The marijuana was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The New Mexico State Police took custody of the stolen vehicle.

CBP-Border Patrol agents were patrolling the U.S./Mexico border west of Playas, N.M Wednesday when they found footprints traveling north from Mexico. The agents followed the tracks and encountered one Mexican male. The individual claimed that he and four other subjects had recently entered the United States illegally. After searching the immediate area, agents located five backpacks containing a total of 224 pounds of marijuana. None of the other individuals were found. The narcotics and the subject were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for disposition.

Also on Wednesday, agents assigned to the Santa Teresa, NM station stopped a late model Ford Mustang on New Mexico Highway 9. Due to conflicting stories by the two individuals and a strong odor of marijuana, the agent asked if he could inspect the trunk of the vehicle. The driver consented to the inspection of the trunk where 221 pounds of marijuana were discovered. The narcotics, vehicle and subjects, both U.S. citizens, were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for prosecution.

For Fiscal year 2007 (October 1st, 2006 through August 31), Border Patrol agents in the El Paso Sector have seized more than $109 million dollars in illegal narcotics.