Del Rio Sector Border Patrol agents seize nearly $1 million worth of marijuana
Friday, 26 April 2013 14:09 Published in April 2013
Del Rio, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents throughout Del Rio Sector seized more than 1,200 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated value of $977,272.
On April 18, agents assigned to the Eagle Pass South Station encountered a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup while patrolling on a local ranch. While agents were conducting records checks on the driver and passenger, another agent discovered a cache of marijuana nearby. Agents seized five bundles of marijuana, weighing a total of 218 pounds, worth an estimated $174,536. The two subjects were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations agents for prosecution.
In another seizure on April 18, agents working at the Highway 57 checkpoint encountered a Chrysler 300 suspected of transporting illegal narcotics. After a search of the vehicle, agents found a total of 43 cellophane-wrapped bricks. The bricks contained a total of 42 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $33,728.
Tuesday, April 23, Eagle Pass North Station agents observed a Ford Mustang, with two occupants, in an area known for narcotics smuggling. When the agents conducted a vehicle stop, the driver attempted to abscond. Agents apprehended the driver after a short foot chase. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed three military-style duffel bags in the back of the vehicle. The duffel bags contained 264 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $211,280. The driver, who is a U.S. citizen, the vehicle, and the marijuana, were turned over to the FBI. The passenger was turned over to the Eagle Pass Police Department.
In several separate incidents from April 17-24, agents from the Eagle Pass South Station seized 695 pounds of abandoned marijuana worth an estimated $557,728. In all of the seizures, Border Patrol agents encountered foot sign along known narcotics smuggling trails. While walking the trails, agents encountered a total of six military-style duffel bags and four large sugar sacks containing mariuana.
All cases were tuned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, unless otherwise noted.
The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. For Fiscal Year 2013, the Del Rio Sector has seized over 24,500 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $19.6 million dollars.
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.
Police: Boston suspects planned to attack New York
Thursday, 25 April 2013 18:50 Published in April 2013
COLLEEN LONG,Associated Press
RODRIQUE NGOWI,Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Marathon bombing suspects had planned to blow up their remaining explosives in New York's Times Square, New York officials said Thursday.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Dzhokhar Tsarnaev told interrogators from his hospital bed that he and his older brother had decided spontaneously Thursday night to drive to New York and detonate their remaining explosives — a pressure-cooker bomb like the ones that blew up at the marathon, plus five pipe bombs.
The plan fell apart after the Tsarnaev brothers were intercepted by police in a stolen car and got into a fierce gun battle that left Tamerlan Tsarnaev dead, Kelly said.
Dzhokhar, 19, is charged with carrying out the Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people and wounded more than 260, and he could get the death penalty.
He was interrogated in his hospital room over a period of 16 hours without being read his constitutional rights. He immediately stopped talking after a magistrate judge and a representative from the U.S. Attorney's office entered the room and gave him his Miranda warning, according to a U.S. law enforcement official and others briefed on the interrogation.
The Tsarnaev brothers "planned to travel to Manhattan to detonate their remaining explosives in Times Square," Kelly said, citing the task force that has been investigating the Boston Marathon attack.
"They discussed this while driving around in a Mercedes SUV that they hijacked after they shot and killed the officer at MIT," the police commissioner said. "That plan, however, fell apart when they realized that the vehicle they hijacked was low on gas and ordered the driver to stop at a nearby gas station."
The driver escaped and called police, Kelly said. That set off the gunbattle and manhunt that ended a day later with Dzhokhar captured and his brother dead.
Clinton, Carter note Bush's humanitarian efforts
Thursday, 25 April 2013 16:05 Published in April 2013
DALLAS (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton jokes that he's become so close to the Bushes that he's become "the black sheep son."
Clinton was reunited with his predecessor and successor once again Thursday during the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.
During a speech at the dedication on the campus of Southern Methodist University, Clinton said Bush had a beautiful library and that his institute's work was inspiring.
Clinton also noted that Bush had beaten him to becoming a grandfather and joked with him about his newfound hobby of painting.
Clinton and another former Democratic president, Jimmy Carter, both noted Bush's humanitarian causes. Wearing dark sunglasses, Carter credited Bush for helping broker a peace treaty in Sudan after he took office.