Packages containing nearly 718 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at World Trade Bridge. USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
LAREDO, Texas—In two more large cocaine interceptions this week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at Laredo Port of Entry seized cocaine valued at $7.6 million within tractor trailers in two separate enforcement actions.
“Within a four-day span, our frontline CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry seized a total of three significant loads of cocaine in the cargo environment; more than $19 million in cocaine in three separate interceptions,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “These seizures perfectly illustrate our officers’ firm resolve to uphold our border security mission and keep our community safe.”
Packages containing 270 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at World Trade Bridge. USCBP Image
The larger seizure occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, at the World Trade Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2009 International tractor hauling a shipment of furniture for a secondary inspection. The tractor trailer was referred for a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination, resulting in the discovery of 285 packages containing nearly 718 pounds of alleged cocaine within the shipment. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $5,535,880.
The other seizure also occurred on Aug. 30, 2022 at World Trade Bridge. CBP officers referred a tractor trailer hauling a shipment of steel rolls for a secondary inspection. A non-intrusive inspection system and canine examination yielded discovery of 110 packages containing a total of 270 pounds of alleged cocaine. The cocaine had an estimated street value of $2,084,200
CBP seized the narcotics in both enforcement actions. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents are investigating the seizures.
Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents made 19 arrests from three migrant smuggling events and seized almost 500 pounds of marijuana. USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents made 19 arrests from three migrant smuggling events and seized almost 500 pounds of marijuana.
On August 29, RGV agents attempted to initiate a vehicle stop on an Isuzu SUV near Linn. The driver failed to yield and led agents on a vehicle pursuit that ended just before the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint. The vehicle came to a stop and the occupants bailed out. Additional agents and a CBP Air and Marine Operations helicopter responded and apprehended seven subjects. They were all transported to the station.
On August 30, agents attempted to initiate an immigration inspection on the occupants of another vehicle near Linn. As soon as agents turned on their emergency equipment, the driver veered off the road and crashed into some trees. The occupants absconded from the vehicle. Agents apprehended eight noncitizens, none of which were injured. The driver was not located.
That same day, a Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station (RGC) camera operator observed subjects load into a Nissan Xterra near the Rio Grande in Roma and depart the area. Agents responded to search the area and located the suspected vehicle after it had been involved in a single vehicle rollover. Agents encountered three non-citizens, and the Legally Admitted Permanent Resident suspected driver as he was running away from the crashed vehicle. Emergency Medical Services, Roma Police and Fire Departments, and Texas Department of Public Safety responded to assist a female migrant who was injured during the accident and the other subjects. The migrants were transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. The uninjured 17-year-old driver was turned over to Starr County Sheriff’s Office to face state charges of smuggling of persons causing bodily injury.
Less than two hours later, RGC agents responded to a suspected narcotics load vehicle in Fronton. Agents encountered the vehicle abandoned with five bundles of marijuana in the vehicle. The driver was not located. The seized marijuana weighed almost 500 pounds and is valued at 380,000 USD.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo South Station working together with local law enforcement officials closed a stash house in Laredo. USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo South Station working together with local law enforcement officials closed a stash house in Laredo, Texas.
The incident occurred on August 30, when Border Patrol agents working together with Webb County Constable’s Precinct 2 and Webb County Attorney’s Office closed a stash house located on Malinche Avenue. Border Patrol agents were able to apprehended at total of 14 undocumented individuals found inside the residence. They were all in the country illegally and were from the countries of Mexico and Guatemala. Six of the individuals had prior arrests by the U.S. Border Patrol.
These apprehensions were a result of a collaborative effort between Laredo Sector Border Patrol and our law enforcement partners who continue to work diligently to stop the housing of undocumented individuals in our communities.
All were taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol and will be processed accordingly.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-343-1994.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents discover people being smuggled inside a dump trailer northwest of Laredo. USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents discover people being smuggled inside a dump trailer northwest of Laredo, Texas.
The incident occurred on August 30, when agents assigned to Laredo West and Laredo North station were working their assigned duties when they noticed some suspicious activity near a ranch, west of I-35. Border Patrol agents noticed a pickup truck pulling a trailer which appeared to be circumventing the checkpoint on U.S. Highway 83. Agents encountered the truck as it exited the ranch onto State Highway 44. Agents proceeded to speak to the driver of the truck, when they noticed people hidden inside the trailer.
Border Patrol agents discovered a total of 61 undocumented individuals who were all crammed in the back of the trailer. All the people found were in the country illegally. They were from the countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico. They were all taken into custody and processed accordingly. This case was turned over to HSI for further investigation.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-343-1994.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is making an historic investment in the future of our rapidly growing state. During our August Texas Transportation Commission meeting, we approved TxDOT’s 10-year transportation program that includes more than $85 billion dedicated to improving safety, addressing congestion and connectivity, and preserving roadways for Texas drivers.
Alvin New , TxDOT Transportation Commissioner
Our state covers more than 266,000 square miles and 1,000 new people are added to the population in Texas every single day. According to recent Census estimates, Texas grew by more than 310,000 from July 2020 to July 2021, and we’re fast approaching a population of 30 million.
TxDOT has planned, and will continue to plan, for this growth and play a critical role in providing the needed infrastructure to help move people and products. That’s where our UnifiedTransportation Program, or UTP, comes in.
Since our mission at TxDOT is “Connecting You With Texas,” we’re working hard to make sure every region of the state stays connected. That’s why we’re dedicating more than $12.2 billionto statewide connectivity projects to upgrade interstates and other major rural highways over the next 10 years via the 2023 UTP.
Since fiscal year 2015, we’ve completed more than 258 rural connectivity projects — an investment of $7.7 billion. And we have another 120 projects — $7 billion worth — currently under construction.
In fact, we’re planning to invest an historic level of approximately $14 billion in our rural areasover the next 10 years through our 2023 UTP. This represents a 600% increase in planned rural funding compared to planned funding from just seven years ago. It demonstrates TxDOT’s commitment to building and maintaining a safe and efficient transportation system, not only in our most populous areas, but also in those rural areas that are so vital to our state’s economic success.
This UTP also puts us to work in the energy producing areas of the state. Roads in our energy sector are bearing the brunt of that industry’s economic boost to the state in wear and tear. That’s why we’re dedicating $2.5 billion to address specific roadways impacted by traffic in five energy producing regions.
With this historic investment, we’re showing our commitment to connecting every region and every Texan to the people and places that matter most.
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that his Public Safety Office (PSO), in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), has increased the reward amount of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification of stash houses used in transnational criminal activity. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today announced that his Public Safety Office (PSO), in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), has increased the reward amount of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification of stash houses used in transnational criminal activity. The Texas Stash House Program encourages Texans to help combat transnational crime by anonymously reporting information on stash houses used to facilitate human trafficking, drug smuggling, and smuggling of people.
“As President Biden’s dangerous open border policies continue to allow cartels and other criminal organizations to operate freely in our communities, it is more important than ever that Texans step up and report suspicious activity,” said Governor Abbott. “DPS and local law enforcement partners are working around the clock to prevent transnational crimes from being committed in communities around the state. These stash houses contain people or drugs that may have otherwise made their way across Texas and the nation because of the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border. With the help of Texans across the state, we can bring criminals to justice, destroy their illegal enterprises, and keep our communities safe.”
Since Governor Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021, DPS troopers have uncovered more than 170 stash houses, which has led to the discovery of over 1,900 illegal immigrants. This week, DPS successfully conducted a stash house operation based on the first tip approved for the newly increased reward amount that led to the seizure of more than 19 kg. of methamphetamine, 20 lbs. of marijuana, cocaine, heroine, LSD, among other illegal drugs, more than $6,000, gold coins and bars, silver coins and bars, and four weapons.
To be eligible for the cash rewards, anyone with information on stash houses can provide anonymous tips in one of the following ways:
Call the Crime Stoppers hotline: 1-800-252-TIPS (8477)
Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the “Submit a Tip” link under the “About” section
All tips are anonymous regardless of how they are submitted.
Governor Abbott has taken significant action to secure the border in the wake of the federal government’s inaction. Those actions include:
Securing $4 billion in funding for Texas’ border security efforts
Launching Operation Lone Star and deploying thousands of National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers
Taking aggressive action to secure the border, including busing thousands of migrants to Washington, D.C.
Arresting and jailing criminals trespassing or committing other state crimes along the southern border
Allocating resources that include acquiring 1,700 unused steel panels to build the border wall in Texas
Signing a law to make it easier to prosecute smugglers bringing people into Texas
Signing 15 laws cracking down on human trafficking in Texas
Signing a law enhancing penalties for the manufacturing and distribution of fentanyl
Issuing a disaster declaration for the border crisis
Issuing an executive order preventing non-governmental entities from transporting illegal immigrants
Signing memoranda of understanding between the State of Texas and the States of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to enhance border security measures that will prevent illegal immigration from Mexico to Texas
Activating the Joint Border Security Operations Center (JBSOC) and directing the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Military Department, and Texas Division of Emergency Management to coordinate Texas’ response to secure the border
Issuing an executive order authorizing the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety to return illegal immigrants to the border at ports of entry
Creating DPS strike teams and establishing new vehicle inspection checkpoints targeting semi-trucks and other commercial motor vehicles
Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) inflation fell 0.1% from June to July. But it is up 6.3% from a year before. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
The Bureau of Economic Analysis released income, spending, savings, and inflation data for July.
Why it matters: Inflation remains the most important economic data point. It cooled in July but remains historically high.
Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) inflation fell 0.1% from June to July. But it is up 6.3% from a year before.
Excluding volatile food and energy, prices have been up 4.6 % since last year.
Go deeper:
Income rose 0.2%, but wages and salaries grew a more robust 0.8%. Inflation-adjusted income rose 0.3% and wages and salaries rose 0.9%.
Spending rose 0.1% in July while inflation-adjusted spending was up 0.2%. Inflation-adjusted spending on both goods and services was up 0.2% each.
Savings were up slightly, but they continue to decline from pandemic levels as consumers use those savings to keep up with higher prices.
Bottom line: July was a mixed bag. Income and savings were slightly positive. Inflation didn’t get worse, but it didn’t get much better. We aren’t out of the woods, but the stability in July’s data is welcome.
Go deeper:
· Access this Chamber slide deck [PDF and PowerPoint] with up-to-date economic data and charts.
Information Source: Curtis Dubay, Chief Economist, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Twenty years ago, services comprised approximately 63% of employment and almost 55% of real gross product (RGP) in Texas. In 2021, we estimate that it had grown to 69% of employment and about 60% of RGP. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
Dr. M. Ray Perryman President and Chief Executive Officer of The Perryman Group
Despite the importance of its energy, food, and fiber, the Texas economy is increasingly services oriented. This outcome is not surprising given the sophisticated nature of the state’s industrial base; it’s a pattern common to every highly developed economy. Let’s examine past and expected future trends.
You can basically think of private-sector activity as falling into two big buckets – goods-producing and services-producing industries. Goods-producing sectors include manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and mining (which encompasses oil and gas extraction). Services is everything else.
Twenty years ago, services comprised approximately 63% of employment and almost 55% of real gross product (RGP) in Texas. In 2021, we estimate that it had grown to 69% of employment and about 60% of RGP. Twenty years from now, our projections indicate that it will be nearly 73% of employment and still about 60% of RGP.
The reason that the services share of RGP is lower than for employment is simply because it is possible to create a lot of output in some goods-producing industries with relatively few workers. In an automated manufacturing facility, for example, a few people can monitor equipment producing many products. Similarly, a relatively small number of employees can maintain massively valuable oil and gas production once a well is completed. By contrast, many jobs in services firms are person-to-person in nature, while others don’t lend themselves to automation. My late friend and great economist William Baumol once noted that it would be exceedingly difficult for two people to play a string quartet.
The services sector includes a diverse set of industries. Professional and business services involve fields such as, among others, accounting and law firms, engineering and consulting companies, and advertising agencies. Health care is included, as is the entire wholesale and retail trade segment. Education, transportation, amusements and recreation, hospitality, restaurants, and financial services are also significant components.
Some of the fastest growth has been experienced in transportation and warehousing, where employment is up almost 62% over the past 20 years. Several categories of financial services have also expanded by 60% or more, including insurance carriers. Professional and business services, education, waste management and remediation, ambulatory health care, and social assistance have also seen strong gains.
Looking ahead, we are projecting that the fastest pace of expansion will occur in social assistance and waste management and remediation, though the professional and business services category will generate the largest number of net new positions.
Over time, the jobs will continue to be created at a more rapid pace in services-producing industries. The composition of occupations will certainly change as the economy evolves and technology alters the character and skills requirements of every job, but the overall pattern is well established. Stay safe!
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Dr. M. Ray Perryman is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Perryman Group (www.perrymangroup.com), which has served the needs of more than 2,500 clients over the past four decades.
Stevens has been working with Yankees staff since signing a professional contract in July and is sitting at 96-98 miles per hour with his fastball coming out of the bullpen. UTRGV Image
Texas Border Business
TAMPA, Florida – Right-handed pitcher Kevin Stevens, who pitched for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) baseball team from 2020-22, was promoted to the single-A Tampa Tarpons by the New York Yankees and will be active for Wednesday’s game against the Dunedin Blue Jays at 5:30 p.m.
Stevens has been working with Yankees staff since signing a professional contract in July and is sitting at 96-98 miles per hour with his fastball coming out of the bullpen.
He made one appearance in the rookie-level Florida Complex League (FCL), recording his first professional strikeout against the FCL Blue Jays on Aug. 22.
The Tarpons have five games against Dunedin at home through Sunday before closing out the season Sept. 6-11 on the road against the Daytona Tortugas.
The Tarpons are in third place in the Florida State League West standings, 2.5 games back of the first place Blue Jays, who close their season at home against the Florida State League East-leading Palm Beach Cardinals.
Should the Tarpons finish first, they will reach the playoffs and face the first half champion Fort Myers Mighty Mussels in a best-of-three division series. The winner of each division series advances to a best-of-three championship series.
Stevens is looking to become the sixth alum to ever reach the major leagues as a player. Five have done it previously, including Dusten Knight, who made his debut with the Baltimore Orioles last season and has seen time with the Tampa Bay Rays this year, third baseman George Williams, who played for the Oakland A’s from 1995-97 and the San Diego Padres in 2000, catcher Dan Firova, who played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1981-82 and the Cleveland Indians in 1988, infielder Wayne Tyrone, who played for the Chicago Cubs in 1978, and outfielder Jim Tyrone, who played for the Cubs in 1972, 1974 and 1975 as well as the A’s in 1977.
A two-time All-WAC First Team and a 2022 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings NCAA Div. I All-Central Region Second Team selection, Stevens went 9-2 with a 2.66 ERA this past season. In 81.1 innings, he racked up 100 strikeouts, tied for the 10th-highest single-season total in program history, while walking 29, allowing 69 hits, and holding opponents to a .230 batting average.
Stevens finished his career with 228 strikeouts, the sixth-highest total in program history.
For his career, Stevens went 18-7 with a 2.99 ERA. In 33 games and starts, he pitched four complete games, including two shutouts, and was a part of two one-hitters. In 195.2 innings, Stevens allowed 162 hits, holding opponents to a .226 batting average. He also issued just 56 walks, giving him better than a 4:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Stevens is one of five alumni known to currently be playing professional baseball along with Dusten Knight(2012-13), who has seen time in the majors with the Rays while spending most of the season with the Durham Bulls (AAA), Andy Atwood (2019-21), who is playing with the Winston-Salem Dash (High-A, Chicago White Sox), Christian Sepulveda (2019-21), who is playing for the Tri-City Dust Devils (High-A, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Conrado Diaz (2019-21), who is playing with Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, and Diego Ramirez, who is going to training camp with the Águilas de Mexicali of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico.
Knight has made four appearances with the Rays this year, striking out six in 6.0 innings and holding opponents to a .250 batting average. At Durham, he’s 2-3 with eight saves, seven holds, and a 3.20 ERA. In 45.0 innings, he has struck out 53 while holding opponents to a .185 batting average.
Atwood was promoted to Winston-Salem from the Class A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers on Aug. 23 after hitting .286/.394/.462 with five home runs, four doubles, one triple, 12 RBI, 21 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 35 games. He is currently 3-for-25 with two doubles, one RBI, and two runs scored in six games for Winston-Salem.
Sepulveda was promoted to Tri-City from the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Angels on Aug. 1 after hitting .283/.372/.550 with six home runs, eight doubles, three triples, 23 RBI, 25 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 35 games. Since being promoted, Sepulveda is hitting .289/.326/.482 with one home runs, 11 doubles, one triple, 14 RBI, 14 runs scored and two stolen bases in 23 games.
EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at El Paso area ports of entry stopped multiple hard narcotics smuggling attempts over the weekend.
“The seizures made during the last several days illustrate the challenges CBP officers face in sorting legitimate travelers from those who are smuggling contraband,” said CBP El Paso Director Field Operations Hector A. Mancha. “CBP officers must always remain vigilant because the variety of smugglers and concealment methods they employ is almost limitless.”
On August 26, CBP officers working at the Paso Del Norte border crossing encountered a 19-year-old, male U.S. citizen via the pedestrian lanes. After inspection, CBP officers noted that the man dropped an unknown bundle while walking. CBP officers retrieved the bundle. It contained 0.13 pounds of fentanyl.
On August 27, CBP officers working at the Ysleta border crossing encountered a 14-year-old, U.S. citizen, male via the pedestrian lanes. A secondary inspection of the teenager was conducted where CBP officers located two bags concealed around the waist area containing 0.7 pounds of methamphetamine and 0.52 pounds of fentanyl.
A few hours later, CBP officers working at the Santa Teresa border crossing intercepted 22.92 pounds of cocaine. CBP officers located multiple bundles hidden in a vehicle following a CBP canine alert and non-intrusive inspection (x-ray) scan. The driver of the vehicle was 36-year-old female, Mexican citizen.
Later that same evening. CBP officers working at the Paso Del Norte border crossing encountered a 42-year-old female, U.S. citizen via pedestrian lanes. During a pat down search, the female voluntarily removed one bundle from her vaginal cavity. Within the primary bundle were several individually wrapped bags containing ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. The combined weight of the drugs was under half a pound.
On August 29, CBP officers working at the Ysleta border crossing encountered a 28-year-old female U.S citizen via the pedestrian lanes. During a secondary inspection, a CBP canine alerted to the odor of narcotics leading the female to voluntarily remove one bundle from her underwear containing 0.06 pounds of methamphetamine
The individuals arrested by CBP were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents or state and local authorities for prosecution.
