CBP officers arrest 34 fugitives and make 20 drug seizures

06.27.08

EL PASO -- Customs and Border Protection agents in the El Paso sector were kept busy this week with dozens of immigration violations, drug seizures, fugitive apprehensions and agriculture violations.

CBP officer made 20 drug seizures and confiscated almost 1,700 pounds of pot, officials said. They also arrested 34 fugitives and seized more than $25,000 in unreported currency in two cases.

CBP officials said agents uncovered 113 immigration violations. 61 cases dealt with the illegal use of legal immigration documents, such as laser visas, that were being used to live or work in the U.S. Violators generally lose their documents and are returned to Mexico, officials said.

Agents arrested 30 people for using legitimate and legal documents assigned to another person in an effort to enter the U.S. Another 22 cases dealt with people making false claims to U.S. citizenship, people attempting to enter with counterfeit or altered documents and people attempting to enter without inspection.

CBP officers working at area ports recorded a total of 11 agriculture violations resulting in almost $3,000 in penalties being assessed. Prohibited agricultural items seized this week included pork, bologna, mangoes, oranges, guavas, figs, plums and live plants.

Area border crosser's are urged to declare all food items they have acquired abroad to avoid penalties and to help reduce the potential for the introduction of harmful pests and disease. Failure to declare prohibited items can result in a $300 penalty for an initial offense. If properly declared, prohibited food items can generally be abandoned at the port of entry without consequence.