Border Patrol agents nab immigrants, marijuana
Special to the Times
06/25/2008
Border Patrol agents from the Laredo North station caught 23 undocumented immigrants early Tuesday, while agents from the Hebbronville station seized more than 440 pounds of marijuana Monday.
Just after midnight Tuesday, agents manning the Interstate 35 checkpoint north of Laredo conducted an immigration inspection of the driver of a tractor-trailer.
A service canine alerted agents to the trailer and indicated to the presence of people or contraband.
Agents opened the trailer and found 23 people inside. All of the people were determined to be illegal immigrants from Mexico.
Border Patrol Agents from the Hebbronville station seized 443 pounds of marijuana.
Agents manning the checkpoint on Texas 1017 conducted an immigration inspection of the lone occupant of a 1992 Dodge pickup that was towing a flatbed trailer.
A service canine alerted agents toward the trailer, indicating the presence of hidden people or contraband.
Agents examined the trailer, which was carrying a load of fencing materials.
A close inspection of two banded stacks of metal fencing posts revealed that the stacks had been modified to conceal large metal boxes.
Agents opened the boxes and found 22 cellophane-wrapped bundles.
The bundles contained marijuana with a weight of 443.15 pounds and an estimated street value of $354,520.
Showing posts with label Trucks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trucks. Show all posts
June 25, 2008
June 20, 2008
El Paso Truck Drivers Approached By Smugglers
El Paso Truck Drivers Approached By Smugglers
Angeeneh Adamain- KFOX News Reporter
POSTED: 7:53 pm MDT June 19, 2008
UPDATED: 9:09 pm MDT June 19, 2008
EL PASO, Texas -- Smuggling truck drivers will lose their livelihoods in El Paso and all of Texas after Gov. Rick Perry announced a new border initiative Thursday. A truck stop is probably the last place you would associate with a border crime.
According to government officials, drug cartels are targeting truck stops and coercing commercial truck drivers into hauling narcotics and even people. Alfredo Lugo is one of those drivers, and he told KFOX it's happening in El Paso.
"They come up to me, or any driver, and will start a friendly conversation like, 'Where are you going?' and will scope you out and ask how would you like to do this or that," Lugo said.
It's stories like Lugo's that prompted Perry to come up with a new initiative called Texas Hold 'Em. Under it, truck drivers convicted of smuggling humans or drugs in the state will have their commercial license revoked.
"We're sending a message to commercial drivers who are breaking the law. If you knowingly smuggle illicit cargo across the Texas border, you're going to lose your license and you're going to lose your livelihood," Perry said Thursday.
Lugo told KFOX he is an honest trucker, but it is not hard to believe in difficult economic times some other drivers may be tempted.
"I've been offered like $20,000 or $30,000--maybe $100,000; it depends on the amount. If it is immigrants, they will tell you how many people. If you are ever tempted by all of that, it will make you think twice about it. You will lose your title as a professional," he said.
Border Patrol officials told KFOX a tip line is in the works so truck drivers can report illegal activity. A tip may even lead to a reward.
http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/16659837/detail.html
Angeeneh Adamain- KFOX News Reporter
POSTED: 7:53 pm MDT June 19, 2008
UPDATED: 9:09 pm MDT June 19, 2008
EL PASO, Texas -- Smuggling truck drivers will lose their livelihoods in El Paso and all of Texas after Gov. Rick Perry announced a new border initiative Thursday. A truck stop is probably the last place you would associate with a border crime.
According to government officials, drug cartels are targeting truck stops and coercing commercial truck drivers into hauling narcotics and even people. Alfredo Lugo is one of those drivers, and he told KFOX it's happening in El Paso.
"They come up to me, or any driver, and will start a friendly conversation like, 'Where are you going?' and will scope you out and ask how would you like to do this or that," Lugo said.
It's stories like Lugo's that prompted Perry to come up with a new initiative called Texas Hold 'Em. Under it, truck drivers convicted of smuggling humans or drugs in the state will have their commercial license revoked.
"We're sending a message to commercial drivers who are breaking the law. If you knowingly smuggle illicit cargo across the Texas border, you're going to lose your license and you're going to lose your livelihood," Perry said Thursday.
Lugo told KFOX he is an honest trucker, but it is not hard to believe in difficult economic times some other drivers may be tempted.
"I've been offered like $20,000 or $30,000--maybe $100,000; it depends on the amount. If it is immigrants, they will tell you how many people. If you are ever tempted by all of that, it will make you think twice about it. You will lose your title as a professional," he said.
Border Patrol officials told KFOX a tip line is in the works so truck drivers can report illegal activity. A tip may even lead to a reward.
http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/16659837/detail.html
Truckers who smuggle drugs, immigrants through Texas will lose licenses
Truckers who smuggle drugs, immigrants through Texas will lose licenses
12:00 AM CDT on Friday, June 20, 2008
By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News
kmbrooks@dallasnews.com
AUSTIN – Truckers who get caught smuggling illegal immigrants or drugs through Texas will lose their commercial driver's licenses under a new enforcement program announced Thursday by Gov. Rick Perry.
HARRY CABLUCK/The Associated Press
Carlos Carrillo, chief U.S Border Patrol agent for the Laredo sector, spoke during a news conference Thursday where Gov. Rick Perry (background) announced an initiative to deter truckers from smuggling drugs and immigrants. The "Texas Hold 'Em" initiative relies on a 10-year-old state administrative law and some federal statutes on revoking commercial licenses for smuggling crimes.
The governor said those laws hadn't been used in the past for federal cases because of a lack of communication between federal and state agencies.
Officials from the U.S. Border Patrol say they've seen a rise in the use of trucks – a longtime favorite of smugglers – to bring contraband through Texas and into the rest of the country. They hope to use the new enforcement effort as another tool to deter smuggling.
The law applies to any driver licensed in any state, officials say. Five truckers – two from Texas and three from other states – have already lost their licenses after being convicted of smuggling
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-truckers_20tex.ART.State.Edition1.4e3963c.html
12:00 AM CDT on Friday, June 20, 2008
By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News
kmbrooks@dallasnews.com
AUSTIN – Truckers who get caught smuggling illegal immigrants or drugs through Texas will lose their commercial driver's licenses under a new enforcement program announced Thursday by Gov. Rick Perry.
HARRY CABLUCK/The Associated Press
Carlos Carrillo, chief U.S Border Patrol agent for the Laredo sector, spoke during a news conference Thursday where Gov. Rick Perry (background) announced an initiative to deter truckers from smuggling drugs and immigrants. The "Texas Hold 'Em" initiative relies on a 10-year-old state administrative law and some federal statutes on revoking commercial licenses for smuggling crimes.
The governor said those laws hadn't been used in the past for federal cases because of a lack of communication between federal and state agencies.
Officials from the U.S. Border Patrol say they've seen a rise in the use of trucks – a longtime favorite of smugglers – to bring contraband through Texas and into the rest of the country. They hope to use the new enforcement effort as another tool to deter smuggling.
The law applies to any driver licensed in any state, officials say. Five truckers – two from Texas and three from other states – have already lost their licenses after being convicted of smuggling
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-truckers_20tex.ART.State.Edition1.4e3963c.html
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