see also: in January 2005 Press Releases:   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Reinstates Testing of the Automated Commercial Environment at Blaine   CBP Officers Seize Almost Six Tons of Marijuana at Otay Mesa   National Border Patrol Chief David V. Aguilar Transfers Command to Chief Patrol Agent Michael C. Nicley   Compliance Date for Implementation of FAST Card Requirement for BRASS Shipment Drivers Begins May 1   Personal Radiation Detectors Alert U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers to Radioactive Emission   Port of Calexico to Employ High-Tech Security Equipment   FY 2004: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Apprehends Large Amount of Narcotics, Thousands of Undocumented Migrants ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

EL PASO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers performing anti-terrorism operations at ports of entry in El Paso, west Texas and southern New Mexico intercepted a wide variety of prohibited items and apprehended numerous fugitives during the previous week.

CBP officers apprehended a total 21 wanted individuals during the previous seven-day period, consistent with the daily average of 3-4 fugitives being taken into custody each day for the past several months. Violators taken into to custody this week included people wanted for a variety of crimes including robbery, probation violations, and outstanding traffic warrants.

CBP officers apprehended a total of 37 people wanted for a variety of immigration related violations including the use of false or counterfeit documents, entry without a visa, and attempting re-entry after being previously deported. The vast majority of the violators, 26 of the 37, were taken into custody for making false claims to U.S. citizenship in an attempt to enter the country illegally.

Area CBP officers seized 1,662 pounds of marijuana, 24 pounds of cocaine and two pounds of methamphetamine in 20 different drug seizures during the past week. The largest seizure of the week occurred Thursday at the Bridge of the Americas in El Paso when CBP officers seized 292 pounds of marijuana. CBP officers discovered the marijuana in a 1997 Ford Econoline van after CBP drug sniffing dog “Nikki” alerted to the vehicle. CBP officers removed a total of 73 marijuana-filled bundles from the gas tank, spare tire, quarter panels and rear door of the vehicle. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents arrested the driver, 21-year-old Guadalupe Adriana Martinez of Juarez, in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.

CBP officers levied a total of $1,350 in penalties against eight different people for illegally importing prohibited agricultural items. The list of prohibited items seized during the past week includes three kilograms of raw chicken feet, pork, bologna, avocados, sugar cane, guavas, oranges, limes, lemons, tangerines and lemongrass.

CBP officers at the Columbus port of entry assessed a $500 penalty against a Las Vegas, Nevada, man for attempting to import 20 poodle puppies into the U.S. from Mexico. The man was assessed the penalty for failing to comply with the commercial import requirements necessary to import the large quantity of dogs. He had previously attempted to enter the commercial sized shipment of animals earlier at another port of entry and CBP officers explained the proper entry procedures before he was returned to Mexico. The violator agreed to pay the penalty and was returned to Mexico with the puppies.

Anti-terrorism is the number one priority of CBP. Professional and vigilant CBP officers are committed to identifying and stopping any terrorists and the tools they intend to use at border ports. Thorough and intensive inspection anti-terrorism operations at legal crossing points regularly result in significant drug, fugitive and other apprehensions, as represented in the seizure activity recorded this past week.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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.