| Federal Drug Seizure Report | |
US Customs Service Press Release -- April 2, 2001
U.S. Customs Agents Seize Nearly a Ton of Marijuana, Arrest 11 Suspects in Two Separate Cases, One Involving a Railcar
Brownsville, Tex. -- U.S. Customs special agents assigned to the Office of the Resident Agent in Charge-Brownsville seized nearly a ton of marijuana and made 11 arrests in two separate, unrelated enforcement actions in the last 10 days.
The most recent seizure occurred yesterday morning. U.S. Customs special agents developed information that smuggling activity was occurring along the banks of the Rio Grande near Santa Maria, Tex. Agents initiated a surveillance and observed three backpackers emerge from the banks. Agents followed the backpackers to a residence nearby. The suspicious activity was consistent with the way drugs are smuggled across the river.
Agents served a search warrant yesterday morning at the residence, where they discovered 400 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $400,000. Agents arrested the three backpackers. Ricardo Berre-Mantilla, age 27, Alvaro Garcia-Gonzalez, age 41, and Juan Jose Lopez-Lopez, age 52, all of Matamoros, Mexico, were expected to make their initial appearances before a federal magistrate today on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
The larger seizure occurred Thursday, March 22. U.S. Customs special agents developed information that marijuana would be smuggled via railcar at the rail crossing at B&M Bridge. U.S. Customs special agents, working in conjunction with U.S. Customs inspectors, U.S. Border Patrol agents, and the National Guard, initiated surveillance on railcars entering the United States.
At about 6 a.m., agents and inspectors observed individuals trying to remove duffel bags of marijuana from a boxcar. Agents and Inspectors arrested a total of eight people. A ninth individual fled the area. A total of 1,453 pounds of marijuana, valued at $1.4 million, was seized. Arrested in connection with the failed smuggling attempt were: Jaime Martinez-Flores, age 28; Raul Martinez-Garcia, age 21; Raul Ortiz, age 22; Thomas Diaz, age 24; all of Matamoros, Mexico; Jose Cruz-Rey, age 38, of San Fernando, Mexico; Artemio Obregon, age 23, of Jimenez, Mexico, and Guillermo Pardo-Padilla, age 18, of El Ranchito, Tex.
All eight were brought before a federal magistrate to make their initial appearances on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
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