see also: in November 2007 News Releases:   CBP Officers Seize 50 Pounds of Cocaine, Three Pounds of Heroin, Guns & Ammo, Arrest 22 For Illegal Entry and Arrest 20 Fugitives During Two-Week Holiday Span at Laredo Port of Entry   Border Patrol Agents Arrest Convicted Sex Offender   Border Patrol Seizes One Ton of Marijuana at Sierra Blanca Checkpoint   Border Patrol Yields $3.7 Million in a Day’s Seizures   Border Patrol and Coast Guard Sign Cooperation Agreement   CBP Seized Cocaine Concealed in Suitcase   Border Patrol Agents Seize 5,450 Pounds of Marijuana Near Freer ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Del Rio, Texas - The U.S. Border Patrol’s Del Rio Sector has seen a reduction in alien apprehensions for the second year in a row. In fiscal year 2007 the sector apprehended 22,920 aliens, a 46 percent reduction from FY 2006. In FY 2006 there were 42,636 arrests which was a 38 percent decrease from Fiscal Year 2005 in which alien apprehension numbered 68,506.

The apprehensions for FY 07 are the lowest number of aliens arrested in the Del Rio Sector in twenty three years. The highest number of aliens spiked in 2000 with 157,178 arrests. Apprehensions usually decline when enforcement efforts become more aggressive or when strategic special operations like, Operation Streamline and Operation Jumpstart are deployed.

"The Del Rio Sector is gaining control of Southwest Texas through the diligent efforts of its agents and partnerships with other agencies" said Del Rio Sector Chief Randy Hill. "Our goal is to protect the people of this country from harm from those that would enter the United States illegally through our southern border. Today we are accomplishing that goal."

Reductions have carried over into other areas. For example, the number of Other Than Mexican (OTM) aliens apprehended in Del Rio Sector has declined from the peak in FY05 with more than 30,000 arrested followed by a dramatic reduction to 12,275 in FY06. In FY 07 6,634 were apprehended.

Strategic enforcement efforts also impact narcotic seizures. There was a sixteen percent rise in marijuana seizures from FY 2006 to FY 2007 after a dramatic 124 percent jump in FY05.

• FY07 totaled 60,509 lbs of marijuana valued at $48,407,200.
• FY06 totaled 53,106 lbs of marijuana valued at $42,484,800.
• FY05 totaled 23,869 lbs of marijuana valued at $19,095,200.

The combined value of other narcotics seized was more than $13,472,000.

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 the 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.