see also: in July 2002:   U.S. Customs Service Inspectors Seize 3,618 Pounds of Cocaine on the Miami River   U.S. Customs Inspectors at Falcon Dam Seize Significant Cocaine Load, Arrest Fugitive   Customs Finds 7,500 Pounds of Marijuana in Tractor-Trailer   U.S. Customs Service Inspectors Seize 392 Pounds of Cocaine on the Miami River   Customs Names Mitchell to Head New York Operations   U.S. Customs, FBI National Intellectual Property Rights Center Holds Industry Outreach Conference   Operation Green Quest Seizes More Than $22 Million in Ongoing Efforts to Dismantle Terror Finance Networks ...more

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Eagle Pass, TX - An Immigration and Naturalization Service Inspector, his wife, and mother-in-law were arrested early today on drug charges following an investigation by U.S. Customs Special Agents, Customs Internal Affairs and the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General.

The criminal complaint alleges that 30-year-old INS inspector Eliu Olvera, conspired with the others earlier this week to permit a vehicle transporting 44 pounds of cocaine to cross the Southwest border into the U.S. through the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry.

Special Agent in Charge, Charles S. Harrison, praised the investigation and arrests. "The focus to bring violators to justice resulted in a highly cooperative and successful law enforcement effort," Harrison said.

According to the criminal complaint, Olvera allowed the vehicle which he had observed the day before and which he believed to contain 20 kilograms of cocaine to pass through the primary lane where he was stationed, in exchange for monetary payment. Olvera was arrested at about 3:40 a.m. Olvera's wife, Yvonne Rodriguez, age 23, and his mother-in-law, Maria Guadalupe Delgado, age 41, made arrangements to receive payment for the 20 kilograms of cocaine which Olvera allegedly had conspired to unlawfully import.

Upon further investigation, Olvera admitted to assisting in the unlawful importation of 128.64 kilograms of cocaine, which Customs Agents had seized on April 24, 2002. The total weight of the cocaine in both incidents was 148.64 kilograms (approx. 327 pounds).

Each defendant is being held without bond. An initial appearance is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Friday, July 12, 2002, before U.S. Magistrate Dennis Green in Del Rio, Texas.

The U. S. Customs Service and the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Kinnicutt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.