Customs Agents Bust 3-For-1 At Presidio Port Of Entry

PRESIDIO, TX. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Presidio port of entry recovered a stolen vehicle, arrested two fugitives, seized 50 pounds of marijuana and turned three people, two women and one man,over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on drug charges on October 21.

All this resulted from just one enforcement action at the West Texas international crossing. This unusual case unfolded shortly after 8 p.m. on October 21 when a 1994 Acura Integra entered the port from Mexico. U.S.Customs agentsperformed a query on the license plate of the vehicle and discovered that it was reported stolen.

At that pointagents removed the three from the car, investigating names and identities of all three. The driver, identified as 22-year old CorrineGomez of Albuquerque,had an outstanding traffic warrant and 27-year old Thomas Justin Estrada of Montebello, California had an outstanding larceny warrant.As the agentscontinued their inspection of the vehicle, adrug-sniffing dogimmediately alerted to the spare tire well in the trunk.

The agentsdiscovered 50 pounds of marijuana hidden in the trunk. ICE special agents arrested allGomez, Estrada and21-year old Veronica Calderon of Albuquerque on the attempted smuggling charge. ICE transported the trio to the Presidio county jail in Marfa. All three are U.S. citizens.

— Formatted and posted to KVIA.com by Miguel Martinez