Pubdate: Thu, 23 Dec 2004
Source: Alpine Avalanche (TX)
Copyright: 2004 Alpine Avalanche
Contact:  http://www.alpineavalanche.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3010
Author: By Betse Esparza / Associate Publisher
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

HOLIDAY SEASON MOSTLY ROUTINE FOR BORDER PATROL

Except for the last 10 days, the holiday season has been pretty slow for 
the Marfa Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol.

According to Public Affairs Officer Bill Brooks, a man and woman from 
Missouri tried to smuggle 1,940 lbs. of marijuana through the checkpoint 
south of Marfa Monday. The drugs were hidden in various compartments of a 
travel trailer. Last Saturday, agents at the Sierra Blanca checkpoint 
seized 682 lbs. of marijuana from an El Paso citizen driving an 18-wheeler. 
The same day, Alpine agents found 65 lbs. of marijuana hidden in the spare 
tire of a car driven by an Odessa woman. The drugs were worth a total of 
about $2.1 million.

Brooks said drug seizures are down for the month of December, but up from 
November.

"It had been pretty quiet for the last couple of months until the last 10 
days, " he said, adding that late summer through fall is the Mexican 
harvest season for marijuana, which is then packaged and stored in 
warehouses along the border until it can be smuggled to the U.S.

Through Dec. 16, the Marfa Sector has apprehended 10,283 Mexican nationals 
trying to enter the country illegally.

"This time of year, a lot of Mexicans go back to Mexico," said Brooks. 
"They stay with their families and will try to enter the U.S. again in a 
couple of months. They don't get checked going back by U.S. officials.

"Generally, apprehensions of people coming into the U.S. during the holiday 
season are going to be down," he said.

Not all Mexicans are in the U.S. illegally, however. "It's a busy period in 
both directions," said Roger Maier, public affairs officer, U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection.

He said traffic is busy at the ports of entry this week, and will pick up 
again for about 10 days after Christmas.

The Customs website, www.cbp.gov, gives travel tips for those going and 
coming, including budgeting extra travel time, especially on weekends and 
during rush hour, ending cell phone conversations before arriving at the 
inspection, area and keeping gifts unwrapped for inspection.

"It's important that people have their documents ready, and anything to 
declare," said Maier.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager