New Mexico – El Paso Sector U.S Border Patrol Agents working the Southwest quadrant of New Mexico, arrested two subjects convicted for murder and seized narcotics in separate events.

	click for hi-res While conducting patrol duties, agents encountered footprints that led them to four abandoned burlap backpacks. The backpacks contained 186 pounds of marijuana.

On January 12, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Lordsburg, N.M. station encountered a group of persons who illegally entered the United States. The subjects' biometric information was submitted into the Integrated Automated Identification System (IAFIS) which revealed that one subject, later identified as 40-year-old Inocencio Noveron Sostenes from Mexico, was convicted of murder in 2004, and served several years in prison. The subject will be criminally prosecuted on a prior order of removal and returned back to Mexico after re-instatement.

The following day, Border Patrol agents assigned to the I-10 checkpoint located west of Las Cruces, N.M., encountered a Jamaican citizen traveling in a rental vehicle to Los Angeles. The subject’s biometric information was submitted into the IAFIS database. It revealed the Jamaican citizen, 44-year-old Sirano Thompson, had an extensive criminal history to include, but not limited to a conviction for attempted first degree murder in Florida.

At the time of the arrest, the subject was in possession of approximately $20,000, and later admitted that the currency was from illegal narcotics proceeds. The Jamaican citizen will also be criminally prosecuted with a previous order of removal from the United States after re-instatement.

In a separate incident, Border Patrol agents in Lordsburg, N.M. discovered multiple bundles of marijuana in two separate incidents. The first incident occurred on January 12. The agents encountered eight bundles of abandoned marijuana totaling 202 pounds. The subjects associated with the drug smuggling attempt avoided arrest by fleeing back to Mexico. The day before, while conducting patrol duties, agents encountered footprints that led them to four abandoned burlap backpacks. The backpacks contained 186 pounds of marijuana.

Over all, the total amount of marijuana seized weighed 388 pounds, with an estimated street value of $311,040.00.

These incidents demonstrate how vigilance by U.S. Border Patrol agents and their constant training prevent criminals and drugs from reaching our communities, while keeping our nation’s borders safe.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.