33 Fugitives Nabbed at Various Ports

EL PASO, TEXAS -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers performing anti-terror operations at ports of entry in El Paso, west Texas, and New Mexico this week identified and stopped 33 people who were being sought by law enforcement agencies across the country. Border inspections also resulted in the discovery of numerous drug, agriculture and immigration violations during the last seven days. While the vast majority of people who cross through border ports of entry are law abiding citizens that pose no risk, our inspections continue to reveal numerous violations on a daily basis, said Luis Garcia, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations in El Paso. CBP officers are working hard to balance enforcement and traveler facilitation. However as violations continue to escalate, travelers may spend more time waiting to cross the border while CBP officers insure that violators are stopped. CBP officers working at area crossings nabbed a total of 33 wanted people this week. Some of those being sought were wanted on drug charges, child neglect, larceny and other felonies. CBP officers working at El Paso area ports have apprehended 849 fugitives since October 1, 2005, the beginning of the fiscal year. In 2005, CBP officers apprehended in excess of 1,200 wanted people while performing intensive anti-terror inspections at area ports of entry. CBP officers identified 113 immigration violations at El Paso area ports during the seven-day period. CBP officers identified 46 intended immigrant cases (people with legitimate entry documents intending to live/work illegally in the U.S.), 27 false claims for U.S. citizenship, 27 imposters (people using a legitimate document not assigned to the person), nine people attempting to enter the U.S. with counterfeit or fraudulent entry documents, two visa overstays, and two attempts to enter without inspection. CBP officers also stopped a total of 19 drug smuggling attempts during the past week including a load of 1,746 pounds of marijuana in a commercial truck at the Ysleta port of entry on Monday afternoon. The 19 marijuana busts resulted in the seizure of 3,075 pounds of the drug. Area CBP officers this week identified a total of 19 attempts to smuggle prohibited food and agricultural products, resulting in $2,650 in penalties being assessed. Food items seized included pork, bologna, chicharrones, eggs, potatoes, mangos, oranges, avocados, guavas, apples, limes, pomegranates and live plants. Thorough inspections help prevent the introduction of pests and disease that are commonly found on smuggled items and pose a risk to U.S. agriculture interests.