see also: in October 2008:   Mexican Military Makes Accidental Incursion into the U.S.   CBP Officers Apprehend Illegal Alien Hidden on Rail Car   Border Patrol Agents Make Several Drug Seizures Near Laredo   CBP Officers at the Calexico Downtown Port of Entry Intercept Cocaine Smuggling Attempt   CBP to Open Andrade Port of Entry Earlier During Agriculture Harvest Season   Layered Enforcement Snags U.S. Citizen, Foils 3 Smuggling Attempts   CBP Announces Online Method for Meeting SENTRI Vehicle Requirements ...more on cbp.gov:   Press Officers   CBP News Releases

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El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at El Paso area ports of entry nabbed 29 fugitives and seized 8,190 pounds of marijuana during the previous seven days.

CBP officers working at the El Paso, Fabens, Fort Hancock, Presidio, Santa Teresa, Columbus and Antelope Wells crossings also identified numerous immigration, agriculture and export violations during the past week.

Two of the 29 fugitives nabbed this week were sex offenders being sought by law enforcement. On October 10, CBP officers at the Fabens port of entry nabbed a 20-year-old man being sought by Liberty County (Texas) authorities on sexual assault of a child charges. He was turned over to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Department.

On October 16, CBP officers working at the Columbus port of entry apprehended a 23-year-old man who was being sought in Colorado on sex assault charges. He was turned over to the Columbus police department.

“CBP is committed to making sure that all people who enter the U.S. are doing so legally and do not pose a risk to the American public,” said Ana Hinojosa, director of field operations in El Paso. “People sometimes will leave the country for any number of reasons, but the inspections by our CBP officers at our ports of entry frequently foil their plans to avoid capture, when they attempt to reenter the U.S.”

Area CBP officers made 18 drug busts during the past week, confiscating a total of 8,190 pounds of marijuana. One of the smallest drug busts of the week turned out to be one of the most interesting. On October 13, CBP officers working at the Paso Del Norte pedestrian crossing in El Paso discovered six marijuana filled bundles taped to the legs and midsection of a 22-year-old El Paso man who attempted to enter the U.S. from Mexico. The drugs weighed a total 6.2 pounds. The violator and drugs were turned over to the El Paso Police Department for local prosecution.

On the other end of the spectrum, CBP officers working at the Bridge of the Americas commercial cargo facility in El Paso seized 6,820 pounds of marijuana from a commercial truck on October 14. The drugs were concealed in a trailer hauling a shipment of coffee from Mexico to the U.S. A 23-year-old Juarez man was arrested in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.

“Anti-terrorism is our primary mission but our inspections routinely uncover violations of all kinds and sizes,” said Hinojosa. “The activity at our ports this week is a perfect example.”

During the past seven days, CBP officers recorded 100 immigration violations at area ports. Imposters made up the largest group of immigration violators. A total of 38 were identified through thorough document exams. Imposters generally will use a legitimate entry document assigned to another person and present it as their own. Violators generally lose their documents and are returned to Mexico. CBP officers nabbed 36 intended immigrants this week. In these cases, individuals will use a legally issued border-crossing card (laser visa) to live or work in the U.S., which is not authorized. They also lose their documents and are generally returned to Mexico. Area CBP officers also identified 26 people who made false claims to U.S. citizenship, attempted to enter with counterfeit or altered documents, visa overstay violations, and those attempting to enter without inspection.

CBP officers working at area ports recorded a total of seven agriculture violations this week, resulting in $1,800 in penalties being assessed. Prohibited agricultural items seized this week included pork, pork skins, pears, avocados, oranges, apples, and plant seeds. Area border crossers are urged to declare all food items they have acquired abroad to avoid penalties and to help reduce the potential for the introduction of harmful pests and disease. Failure to declare prohibited items can result in a $300 penalty for an initial offense. If properly declared, prohibited food items can generally be abandoned at the port of entry without consequence.

In addition to the agriculture and immigration violations, CBP officers working at El Paso area ports assessed $5,300 in penalties in four illegal export cases. While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.