*This overview is compiled from incidents reported to the Office of Border Patrol and is not intended to reflect all Border Patrol enforcement actions. Most arrests and seizures fail to meet the requirements for mandatory reporting to the Office of Border Patrol.

Reported on March 5, 2009

El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Calexico, California. Records checks revealed the subject is a registered sex offender in the State of Washington and had been convicted of third degree rape of a minor.

El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Calexico, California. Records checks revealed the subject is a registered sex offender and had been convicted of sex with a minor under three years old in the State of California.

Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 4,908 pounds of marijuana valued at $3,926,080, a Peterbilt tractor-trailer, and arrested a United States Citizen (USC) at a traffic checkpoint near Hebbronville, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A subsequent search of the trailer revealed the marijuana inside a storage tank.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,142 pounds of marijuana valued at $913,200, a Freightliner tractor-trailer, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search of the trailer revealed the marijuana concealed in a false wall.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,896 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,516,480, a Freightliner tractor-trailer, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint in Sarita, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search of the trailer revealed 32 boxes containing 152 bundles of marijuana.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,191 pounds of marijuana valued at $952,800 near La Rosita, Texas. Agents discovered the marijuana abandoned near the Rio Grande River.

Reported on March 6, 2009

Del Rio Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested 10 illegal aliens from Honduras and Guatemala near Carrizo Springs, Texas. The agents and local sheriff’s deputies received a call from a ranch foreman claiming the residence had been burglarized. The agents followed footprints leading away from the ranch and found the 10 illegal aliens along with the stolen property.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 530 pounds of marijuana valued at $424,000 and a 1997 Dodge Caravan near Hidalgo, Texas. Agents observed the vehicle leaving the river area, when the driver turned around and drove the vehicle into the river. The vehicle came to rest upside down, and unidentified subjects from the Mexican side of the river swam to the vehicle and retrieved the driver. The unidentified subjects returned to Mexico with the body of the driver, who appeared to be deceased. The marijuana was found inside the vehicle after it was pulled from the river

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized a 2005 Chevrolet containing 1,000 pounds of marijuana valued at $800,320, and a 2007 Chevrolet containing 919 pounds of marijuana valued at $734,800. Both vehicles containing the marijuana were found abandoned in the desert near Stanfield, Arizona.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Douglas, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject is a convicted sex offender, and was convicted of predatory crime, sex assault on a child in the State of Illinois.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 17 pounds of methamphetamine valued at $414,000, 31 pounds of cocaine valued at $993,600, a 2005 Honda Pilot, and arrested a national of Mexico at the traffic checkpoint near Amado, Arizona. The subject presented himself for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed the narcotics.

Reported on March 7, 2009

El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Calexico, California. Records checks revealed the subject has an active warrant of arrest for rape issued in the State of California.

Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 237.8 pounds of cocaine valued at $7,606,600, a tractor-trailer, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Laredo, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search of the trailer revealed the cocaine hidden within a shipment of ceramic toilets.

San Diego Sector – Border Patrol agents seized a 1994 GMC tractor, a 1996 Freightliner tractor-trailer, arrested two USCs and 23 illegal aliens from Mexico after performing surveillance near Campo, California. The USCs were observed transferring multiple subjects from one vehicle to another in an open parking lot.

Reported on March 8, 2009

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 306.5 pounds of cocaine valued at $9,808,000, a Freightliner tractor-trailer, and arrested a national of Honduras at the traffic checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A subsequent search of the trailer revealed the cocaine commingled with a shipment of produce.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,588 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,270,000, a Freightliner tractor-trailer, and arrested a national of Mexico at the traffic checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search revealed the marijuana inside the trailer.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 5,637 pounds of marijuana valued at $4,509,200, a Peterbilt tractor-trailer, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A subsequent search revealed 201 bundles of marijuana hidden in a false compartment.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested a USC and a national of Mexico, and seized a Ford Ranger, 10 firearms of various calibers, and more than 4,200 rounds of ammunition after performing a vehicle stop near Why, Arizona. A search of the vehicle revealed the ammunition and weapons concealed in an ice chest and duffle bag.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested two illegal aliens from Mexico near Arivaca, Arizona. Both subjects admitted to being Sureno gang members. Records checks revealed the two subjects had previous criminal and immigration arrest records.

Reported on March 9, 2009

Buffalo Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Mexico near Geddes, New York. Records checks revealed the subject was a convicted sexual offender in the State of Florida for child fondling-lewd or lascivious act sexual battery, and had been deported from the United States on two occasions.

El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested 41 illegal aliens from Mexico near Ocotillo, California. Agents conducted a vehicle stop on a Ford F-250, which resulted in the arrest of the illegal aliens, 40 of whom were being transported in a travel trailer.

Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,415 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,131,680, a Freightliner tractor-trailer, and arrested a national of Mexico at the traffic checkpoint in Laredo, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A subsequent search revealed the marijuana wrapped in packaging tape in the trailer.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from Honduras near Sasabe, Arizona. Records checks revealed the subject had an arrest warrant issued in the State of California for failure to appear on charges of statutory rape and lewd and lascivious behavior with a child under 14.

Reported on March 10, 2009

El Centro Sector – Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien from El Salvador near Calexico, California. During processing, the subject admitted to being a Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang member and records checks revealed he had an extensive criminal history.

Laredo Sector – A Border Patrol agent fired his Service issued sidearm in response to an assault by multiple subjects near Laredo, Texas. The agent was attempting to recover several bundles of suspected contraband when numerous unidentified subjects began throwing rocks. The agent ordered the subjects to stop, at which time the subjects circled the agent and continued their assault. The agent discharged his weapon, and approximately 19 individuals were observed fleeing into Mexico. Agents seized 280 pounds of marijuana valued at $224,240.

Rio Grande Valley Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 2,279 pounds of marijuana valued at $1,822,800, a Kenworth tractor-trailer, and arrested a USC at the traffic checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor trailer for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search revealed the marijuana concealed within wooden crates inside the trailer.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,107 pounds of marijuana valued at $885,760, two vehicles, and arrested a USC and an illegal alien from Mexico near Nogales, Arizona. Agents conducting surveillance on a residence performed vehicle stops on two vehicles seen leaving the home, and discovered eight bundles of marijuana in the vehicles. A subsequent search of the home yielded an additional 40 bundles of marijuana and a handgun.

Reported on March 11, 2009

Laredo Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 1,160 pounds of marijuana valued at $927,680, a tractor-trailer, and arrested a national of Mexico at the I-35 traffic checkpoint near Laredo, Texas. The subject presented himself and the tractor-trailer for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the trailer. A search of the trailer revealed the marijuana commingled with a shipment of tile.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized an AK-47 assault rifle, a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun, approximately 100 rounds of ammunition, a Volkswagen, and arrested two illegal aliens from Mexico near Kohatk, Arizona. Agents observed the driver of the Volkswagen acting suspiciously and conducted a vehicle stop. A search revealed the weapons and ammunition concealed inside the vehicle.

Tucson Sector – Border Patrol agents seized 76 pounds of marijuana valued at $60,760 and a Chevrolet truck at the I-19 traffic checkpoint near Amado, Arizona. The driver of the truck, a USC, presented himself for inspection, and a Border Patrol canine alerted to the truck. Agents discovered an after-market fuel tank, and a search of the tank revealed three bundles of marijuana.