AUBURN, Maine – Border Patrol Agents, working at a transportation hub in Auburn on July 2, discovered a Mexican national who was illegally present in the United States.  The illegal alien was also in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.    

A subsequent search of the man and his baggage resulted in the discovery of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.  The man was found to have entered the United States illegally through Douglas, Arizona in 1997 and lacked proper documents to travel or remain within the United States. 

During processing at the Rangeley Border Patrol Station, the man admitted to three previous arrests, including one for domestic violence.  “Routine operations in and around transportation hubs is a long standing and well established immigration enforcement tool,” said Jason D. Owens, Chief of the Border Patrol in Maine.  “If our agents had not been present at the bus station, an admitted criminal alien and his dangerous drugs would have gone undetected.”

After processing, the Mexican national was placed into removal proceedings and transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).  The narcotics and paraphernalia were seized.

Under Title 8 of the U.S. Code, it is a federal crime to enter the United States illegally.  Additionally, Title 21 of the U.S Code makes possession of methamphetamine and marijuana a federal crime.  While most of the people arrested by the United States Border Patrol in Maine are processed administratively, underlying criminal charges are frequently present.

“Public transportation hubs are used by alien smuggling and drug trafficking organizations to move people, narcotics, and contraband to interior destinations throughout the country. Seizures like the one we had today help to highlight the reason for these checks and emphasize the job we are doing to protect the citizens of Maine and the United States,” said Rangeley Patrol Agent in Charge, Robert Leroux.

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