Border Patrol roundup

Several Mexican nationals armed with slingshots fired small rocks at U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents who were patrolling in San Luis, Ariz., Tuesday.

The agents, who were from the Yuma sector, were working about three miles east of the San Luis port of entry when the assailants began shooting rocks at the agents from the Mexican side of the international border.

Able to stay out of the slingshotters' range, agents stayed in visual contact with their assailants and contacted Mexican authorities.

Once on scene, Mexican authorities dispersed the group but made no apprehensions. None of the agents or their vehicles sustained any damage.

From Oct. 1 through June 30, agents have faced a 43 percent increase in violence, with 174 reported incidents compared to 122 incidents during the same period last year.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUFFERS HEART ATTACK WHILE CROSSING

A man who illegally entered the country Monday suffered a mild heart attack after U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents from the Yuma sector's Wellton Border Patrol station found him and another individual.

At 1 p.m., agents found sets of footprints of two men near railroad tracks south of Dome Valley. The agents, after following the footprints for about 15 minutes, eventually caught up to the two men.

During questioning, agents discovered the men were Mexican nationals illegally in the U.S. They told the agents that they entered the country in El Paso, Texas, and boarded a westbound train.

While agents were gathering biographical information on the two men, one of them began displaying symptoms of dehydration and heat exhaustion and vomiting before finally collapsing into an unresponsive state.

The agents immediately requested emergency medical services. When medics arrived, the man was transported to the Yuma Regional Medical Center where medical staff discovered he had suffered a mild heart attack.

Further tests revealed that he is Hepatitis C-positive, and he tested positive for marijuana use. The man remains in the hospital for

additional testing and observation.

The other individual traveling with the man was transported to the Wellton Border Patrol station for processing.

YUMA BORDER PATROL AGENTS SEIZE POT, STOLEN TRUCK

A quick response and teamwork helped U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents assigned to the Yuma sector seize more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana Tuesday during a failed smuggling attempt in Yuma sector's east desert.

About 6:45 a.m., an agent operating a ground radar system detected a vehicle traveling northbound from the U.S.-Mexico border approximately 15 miles east of the San Luis port of entry.

Another agent responded to the area, and the suspect vehicle, a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, turned around and tried to flee back to Mexico. An agent ahead of the Avalanche was able to put out a tire deflation device, which disabled two of the vehicle's tires just short of the border.

The vehicle's two occupants fled to Mexico on foot where they were picked up by a vehicle that was waiting for them and drove out of sight.

An inspection of the disabled vehicle revealed it was carrying numerous bundles of marijuana, which weighed more than 1,100 pounds and had an estimated value of just more than $900,000.

Additionally, a records check of the vehicle revealed it was registered in Arizona but reported stolen from San Diego. A further inspection of the area revealed that an anti-vehicular bollard was cut and removed, which allowed the vehicle to drive into the country.

Maintenance personnel were notified and the bollard will be replaced. An agent will remain in the area until repairs are made.

The Mexican authorities were notified, and the drugs and stolen vehicle were turned over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

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James Gilbert can be reached at

jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.