November 12, 09

NEWS / Capital Murder Fugitive, 79-Year-Old with Heroin in Shoes Apprehended by Laredo CBP Officers

Laredo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working the Laredo port of entry took custody of a man who was being sought on capital murder charges, seized two pounds of heroin and 79 pounds of marijuana over the weekend.


“Friday marked the beginning of a busy weekend for our frontline officers. While many in our community were relaxing and enjoying time off CBP officers at the Laredo port of entry were hard at work protecting America,” said Gene Garza, port director, Laredo, Texas. “Anti-terrorism is our primary mission but the dividend of the work CBP officers do is often measured in fugitive arrests, drug smuggling busts, and other apprehensions.”


CBP officers on Friday, November 6 at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge took custody of Robert Gaona, a 25-year-old U.S. citizen from San Antonio, Texas who had three active warrants issued by Bexar County including one for capital murder. CBP officers verified Gaona’s identity, confirmed the outstanding warrants and turned him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents to be remanded to the Webb County Jail. U.S. Marshal’s Service, ICE and Laredo Police Department all assisted CBP in the fugitive transfer.


The heroin seizure occurred on the same date at the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge when Benedicto Silva De La Rosa, a 79-year-old U.S. citizen from San Juan, Texas applied for admission to enter the U.S. as a passenger on a commercial bus. A CBP officer referred the subject for a secondary inspection. CBP officers inspected the subject’s boots and discovered two bundles, one in each boot that contained a total of two pounds of heroin. The heroin has an estimated street value of $200,000.


CBP officers seized 79 pounds of marijuana on Saturday, November 7 at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge when Juan Antonio Duarte Alvarado, a 25-year-old Mexican citizen from Anahuac, Nuevo Leon applied for admission to enter the U.S. as the driver of a 1990 Ford F-150 pick-up truck. CBP officers referred the vehicle for a secondary examination. CBP canine “Misco” alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle. A non-intrusive imaging system scan of the pick-up truck revealed anomalies in the cab area. CBP officers conducted an intensive examination of the cab area and discovered 67 packages that contained marijuana. The marijuana has an estimated street value of $67,000.


The two narcotics interceptions resulted in the arrest of both men who were then turned over to ICE special agents who investigated the seizures and processed them on federal drug charges. CBP officers seized the heroin, marijuana, and the pick-up truck.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/11112009_2.xml