see also: in October 2005 Press Releases:   Border Patrol Agent Assaulted at Checkpoint   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Over 104 Lbs. of Cocaine   CBP South Florida Ports of Entry Update   CBP Provides Assistance with Hurricane Wilma Fuel Crisis   United States – Australia Join Efforts To Validate Travel Documents   CBP Miami Field Office Post Hurricane Wilma Operations ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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McAllen, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents seized a total of 1,032 pounds of marijuana and 28 grams of cocaine in two separate seizures over the weekend. In one of the seizures, an individual with an active warrant was arrested.

On Friday, October 28, 2005, CBP Border Patrol agents assigned to the Harlingen Border Patrol Station arrested an individual wanted for aggravated robbery and seized 28 grams of cocaine valued at $1,973 at the Valley Transit Bus Company in Harlingen, Texas.

CBP Border Patrol agents were conducting bus check operations when a CBP Canine Team alerted on a duffel bag on the floor. When agents asked who was the owner of the bag, a subject later identified as Carlos De Jesus-Rivera stated that the duffel bag was his. While an agent searched the duffel bag, another agent observed the subject pull a lighter and a small bag containing a white powder substance from his pocket. When agents questioned him concerning the contents in his pocket, he attempted to flee from the agents. As agents attempted to detain him, he pulled several small bags from his pocket and spilled the contents on the ground. Agents arrested him and transported him to the Harlingen Border Patrol Station. A fingerprint check utilizing the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) revealed an active arrest warrant with the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department for Aggravated Robbery and Possession of Marijuana. The subject was remanded to the custody of Harlingen Police Department for prosecution of possession of cocaine.

The second seizure occurred on October 28, 2005, at the CBP Border Patrol Immigration Checkpoint on U.S. Highway 281. At approximately 8:45 p.m., a Ford F-250 truck entered the primary inspection area at the checkpoint. While the primary agent performed an immigration check on the driver, a CBP Canine Team conducted a non-intrusive, free air sniff of the truck and alerted on the vehicle. The driver was directed to the secondary area of the checkpoint for a closer inspection.

The driver did not comply with the request and fled from the checkpoint. CBP Border Patrol agents and Brooks County Deputies pursued the vehicle until Department of Public Safety Troopers utilized road spikes to stop the vehicle. The driver, later identified as Rafael Flores-Chapa, was arrested. The truck contained 50 bundles of marijuana valued at $825,600 weighing 1,032 pounds. The marijuana and the subject were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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.