Agents make drug seizure in Huachucas; alleged coyote being held in county jail.

Sierra Vista Herald, Sierra Vista Arizona ^ | 11/26/03 | Bill Hess

[SandRat]

RAMSEY CANYON -- A sensor that went off in the Huachuca Mountains led U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Naco Station to find a large quantity of marijuana Tuesday night.

Four illegal immigrants who denied they had anything to do with the marijuana also were taken into custody.

Agents seized 777 pounds of marijuana, which has an estimated street value of $621,600.

The Border Patrol launched a helicopter out of Libby Army Airfield in an attempt to round up other suspected drug smugglers, mules as they are called. At least 10 were able to successfully flee apprehension in the dark woods of Ramsey Canyon.

The drug seizure was part of Operation Pipeline, a major program in Cochise and Santa Cruz counties that is designed to deny the trails in the Huachuca Mountains and the highways as an avenue for those involved in people and drug smuggling.

The operation is focusing on the Naco Corridor, which runs from the east side of the San Pedro River to the west side of the Huachuca Mountains.

The operation began on Nov. 17. Through midnight on Monday, 1,420 illegal immigrants have been apprehended, of which 41 were non-Mexicans, according to the Border Patrol. Of the people apprehended, 21 are being held for criminal prosecution.

During the same period, 1,127.5 pounds of marijuana have been seized. That figure does not include the 777 pounds from Tuesday's operation in Ramsey Canyon. The operation has also netted 140 vehicles used for illegal activities.

A major part of Operation Pipeline is to disrupt people-smuggling activities, said Gavin Weidman, an acting supervisor from the Naco Station.

The main object is to eliminate the people who are the smugglers especially those who prey upon illegal immigrants, he said. Such smugglers are called coyotes.

Cochise County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Carol Capas said Tuesday that Jorge Luis Rodriguez, 29, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, is being held in the county jail on a count of aggravated assault on a female illegal immigrant. Rodriguez was identified as a coyote by an illegal immigrant, she said.

There is a possibility additional charges may be added because another woman has made allegations against Rodriguez, Capas said.

He is being held on a $250,000 bond and a hold order from the U.S. Border Patrol.

[SandRat]

A perfect example of why the border must be CLOSED TIGHT!

[SandRat]

Illegal - Coyote - Drug PING!

[Zipporah]

"illegal immigrants".. more of the same. btw.. what borders?

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Bush is shocked! SHOCKED!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

coyote being held in county jail

As an animal lover, I am shocked and outraged that the authorities would hold a coyote in jail. Sure, we all want to crack down on the drug and illegal immigrant trade, but to punish an innocent animal is nothing short of . . .

What? It's not an animal, it's a guy who smuggles illegal immigrants? Never mind.

[HiJinx]

[GatekeeperBookman]

Human Rights Violation-the entire criminal alien scam is enslavement of them by Citizen Fox, with the duplicity of Mr. Bush & US corporations. They are enslaved to come North to work & send the cash South, for the benefit of the mexican midgets who run the scam.

Call the UN! Don't they care about human rights?

"The War does indeed have many facets; http://aztlan.net/ Look at your enemy."

[janetgreen]

As an animal lover, I am shocked and outraged that the authorities would hold a coyote in jail.

LOL!

This story COULDN'T BE TRUE!! Our own President tells us that these "undocumented immigrants" only come to work...

[PhiKapMom]

Looks like the crack down continues! What a group of lowlifes not drug runners -- lock them up and make an example of them by making them go out in the heat of day along the border and clean out the cactus or whatever manual labor you can come up with so the people across the border can see what happens when you break the law!

[FITZ]

especially those who prey upon illegal immigrants

Except they aren't really preying on illegal immigrants. The illegals are the drug smuggling mules and the coyotes are the leaders of the group. A poor Mexican making $25 a week in Mexico cannot save up the thousands of dollars it takes to hire a coyote ---- these are drug runners working for the Mexican drug cartels.

[abigail2]

Come to work the American system!!

[HiTech RedNeck]

A poor Mexican making $25 a week in Mexico cannot save up the thousands of dollars it takes to hire a coyote

Bulk rate?

[185JHP]

Mexico gets 30 billion a year from illegal drugs exported into our country. That means we can make Mexico explode into economic chaos at any time we choose. Wonderful to contemplate...for us. A Prez with the will and the huevos and BLAM...

[HiTech RedNeck]

That means we can make Mexico explode into economic chaos at any time we choose.

Yeah, I guess if the USA went totally police state it could cut the consumption by half or so.