Agents arrest suspected drug smugglers, convicted sex offender
U.S. Border Patrol agents working throughout the Yuma Sector seized nearly 500 pounds of marijuana and arrested an illegal alien with a criminal history as a sex offender in four separate events in the past week.
According to Agent Robert Lowry, a spokesman for the Yuma Sector, on Sunday Wellton Station agents seized approximately 98 pounds of marijuana and arrested two suspected smugglers.
Lowry said agents spotted several individuals walking about a mile south of Interstate 8 near mile marker 91. This is second time agents have made an arrest in the area.
“Typically speaking, drug trafficking organizations will stick to certain areas because it is familiar to them, so agents are consistently patrolling those areas,” Lowry said. “With the weather getting cooler, we are starting to see an influx of illegal entries and drug-smuggling attempts.”
Lowry said agents first spotted the smugglers on a scope truck and made their way to the area, where they eventually located three large makeshift backpacks.
“On the scope truck, agents were able to see they were carrying bundles on their backs,” Lowry said.
Agents tracked the footprints in the surrounding area and found two Mexican nationals attempting to avoid apprehension. The three large bundles of marijuana had a combined weight of 98 pounds.
The marijuana, with an estimated street value of $78,400, and the two subjects were transported to the Wellton Border Patrol Station for further processing.
Then on Monday, agents seized approximately 81 pounds of marijuana and arrested one suspected smuggler.
Lowry said agents, who were on line watch duties, observed a suspicious motorcycle near County 8th Street and the Levee Road. The motorcycle, an Italika FT150, was found on its side and the driver had attempted to hide nearby.
Located near the motorcycle was a bundle of what appeared to be marijuana. As the agents secured the area, they followed the tracks from the rider and the motorcycle, discovering an additional two bundles.
During the investigation, agents found evidence that the motorcycle had been rafted across the Colorado River and determined the rider was a Mexican citizen. The three large bundles, later identified as marijuana, had a combined weight of 81 pounds.
The marijuana, with an estimated street value of $64,800, the motorcycle and the suspected smuggler were turned over to the Yuma Narcotics Task Force.
And on Thursday, Wellton Station agents seized approximately 267 pounds of marijuana and arrested five suspected smugglers.
Lowry said agents, using night vision goggles, spotted several suspected smugglers south of Interstate 8, again near mile marker 91.
Agents followed the suspected smuggler's footprints and found five large makeshift backpacks. As agents continued to track the footprints, they located five Mexican nationals attempting to avoid apprehension.
“As agents approached and announced themselves, the smugglers dropped their packs and tried to run,” Lowry said.
The five large bundles of marijuana had a combined weight of 267.9 pounds, with an estimated street value of $214,320. The marijuana and the five subjects were turned over to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Also on Sunday, Blythe Station agents arrested an illegal alien with a criminal history that included a sex offender conviction involving a minor.
The man, Francisco Aviles Gallegos, was arrested during a traffic stop by Border Patrol agents near Needles, Calif.
Aviles Gallegos was one of four individuals in the vehicle at the time. As agents were checking their immigration status, it was determined they were all in the country illegally. During processing, agents learned of Aviles Gallegos' criminal history and that he had previously been deported from the United States.
Aviles Gallegos is being presented for prosecution.
Source -
http://www.yumasun.com/news/agents-65483-marijuana-lowry.html
