Smugglers try driving over US border fence, get stuck

Associated Press / MSN
October 31, 2012

YUMA, Ariz. — Suspected smugglers tried to use ramps to drive an SUV over a 14-foot fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, but they abandoned the effort when it got stuck on top.

U.S. Border Patrol spokesman Spencer Tippets says agents spotted the SUV perched atop the fence early Tuesday near the border between Arizona and California.

Two people on the Mexican side were trying to free the Jeep when the agents approached. They ran further into Mexico.

The Jeep was empty, but agents say it was probably filled with contraband like marijuana before it got stuck.

The smugglers had built ramps that looked like long ladders to drive up and over the fence.

 

http://news.msn.com/us/smugglers-try-driving-over-us-border-fence-get-stuck

U.S. Mexico border fence collapses in Los Algodones, Mexico

KSWT News 13
July 25, 2012
by Stephanie Sanchez

Yuma--A construction company was excavating near the U.S. Mexico border fence in Los Algodones, Mexico Thursday night around 8 p.m. About 114 feet of border fence collapsed.

"There are extra agents in this area, air assets are on stand by and will adjust where needed as well," Spencer Tippets, U.S. Border Patrol spokesman of the Yuma sector said. "Extra security will be in place until the fence is repaired."

The excavating equipment belonged to Haro express, a Mexican material transporting company.

An anonymous source close to the project tells us they specifically warned the company to not to dig so close to the border fence but they went ahead anyway.

They were reportedly under a deadline for a construction project on a plaza in downtown Algodones.

Parts of the fence toppled over the tractor and truck but no injuries were reported.

"We don't know exactly what the engineers will come up with as far as the replacement of the fence," Tippets said. "Were not sure if they will continue with the same kind of construction in this area or if use the same type of fencing."

He said they don't know how long it will take to rebuild the border fence and the estimated amount of damage isn't known yet.

The International Boundary and Water Commission and Mexican authorities are reviewing the incident. Customs and Border Protection is considering the most efficient means of repairing the fence. Security has been increased at the scene until repairs are made."

http://www.kswt.com/story/19115402/border-fence-collapses-in-los-algodones-mexico

Smugglers improvise ramp to drive over border fence

Yuma Sun
April 7, 2011
by Chris McDaniel

Half a million dollars worth of marijuana was seized from smugglers who used a portable truck ramp to illegally enter the U.S. from Mexico early Thursday morning.

Border Patrol agents assigned to Yuma Station were patrolling near Foothills Boulevard and the international boundary just before dawn when they encountered a 2001 Jeep Cherokee driving northbound from the fence at a high rate of speed.

“The hours of darkness are always more busy than during the daylight,” said Kenneth Quillin, supervisory Border Patrol agent for the Yuma Sector Communications Division.

Agents attempted to initiate a vehicle stop when the vehicle suddenly changed directions and headed back toward Mexico. The vehicle's occupants abandoned the vehicle in the U.S. and fled to Mexico.

“Where they returned back south is where the fence is up against a natural barrier - a mountain range - and they went around the fence,” Quillin said.

Inside the SUV, agents discovered 1,000 pounds of marijuana.

The Cherokee had entered the United States over a large ramp placed over the fence to create a portable bridge. The fence is about 12 feet tall.

“The ramp truck - the front part folds over the top of the fence so the (Cherokee) travels across the rails and the front part actually touches the ground on the other side. It actually travels up over the top,” Quillin explained.

The homemade truck ramp was crafted by smugglers, Quillin added. “They made it themselves.”

The ramp has been seized by Mexican officials. The marijuana was seized and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the vehicle was seized by Border Patrol.

The Yuma Sector Border Patrol said as a result of its efforts to disrupt and deny transnational criminal organizations from operating with impunity, smuggling organizations often abandon their narcotics rather than risk being caught and facing prosecution.

http://www.yumasun.com/news/border-69033-fence-ramp.html

Border Patrol agents seize 53 bundles of marijuana

Yuma Sun
July 13, 2010
by James Gilbert

Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents seized more than $800,000 of marijuana on Saturday morning from a vehicle that had illegally entered the country.

Agent Shaun Kuzia, a spokesman for the Yuma Sector, said agents assigned to the Yuma Station detected the illegal entry of a 1991 GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle just before 5 a.m. about 30 miles east of the San Luis Port of Entry.

Kuzia said the suspected smugglers drove the SUV into the country after damaging and removing a portion of the vehicle barriers in the area.

Agents responding to the area reported that the occupants abandoned the SUV just north of the border fence and fled back into Mexico on foot to avoid arrest.

Kuzia said the vehicle contained 53 plastic-wrapped bundles of marijuana that weighed 1,117 pounds, with an estimated street value of $885,800.

The SUV was seized by the Border Patrol and the bundles of marijuana were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

http://www.yumasun.com/news/border-62367-marijuana-patrol.html

Agents arrest 3 in pot, gun, car seizures

Yuma Sun
February 25, 2010
by James Gilbert

[...]

Border Patrol agents also detected the illegal entry of a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe sport utility vehicle Tuesday evening about 30 miles east of the San Luis, Ariz., port of entry.

When the SUV's occupants realized they had been detected by the Border Patrol and that agents were responding to the entry, the driver drove back toward the border to avoid arrest.

Once back at the border fence, the driver and three passengers abandoned the SUV and fled back into Mexico.

"They basically climbed the fence and returned to Mexico," Kuzia said.

While securing the vehicle agents discovered 107 bundles of marijuana stacked inside. The SUV, which was reported stolen, was turned over to YCSO.

The marijuana, which weighed 1,242 pounds with an estimated street value of $993,600, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

[...]

http://www.yumasun.com/news/agents-56556-border-driver.html