Sex Offenders and Cocaine Smuggler Arrested by U.S. Border Patrol

Imperial Valley, Calif. -- U.S. Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector arrested two illegal aliens with history of criminal sex offenses and seized over $500,000 in cocaine over the past few days.

The first incident occurred on Monday, at approximately 10 p.m., when Border Patrol agents from the El Centro station apprehended Juan Rodriguez-Estrada -- a 36-year-old Mexican male -- after he attempted to enter into the United States illegally from Mexico. The subject was transported to the El Centro Border Patrol Station where record checks revealed he has a prior conviction for sexual battery out of Fresno, Calif. Rodriguez was held at the El Centro Border Patrol Station where he faces removal proceedings and immigration charges.

The following day, at approximately 7 a.m., Indio Border Patrol agents discovered over 18 pounds of cocaine concealed inside a gold-colored Toyota Camry at the Highway 111 Checkpoint near Westmorland, Calif. Agents became suspicious after a canine team alerted to the vehicle during primary inspection. The driver -- a 35-year-old male United States Citizen -- was referred to secondary where a thorough search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of several small packages of cocaine, valued at more than half a million dollars. The driver, vehicle and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Yesterday at around 10 p.m., El Centro Border Patrol agents arrested a group of seven illegal aliens attempting to enter the United States illegally from Mexico. The group was transported to the El Centro Border Patrol Station where agents identified one of the Mexican men in the group as 45-year-old Manuel Z. Gonzalez , a registered sex offender out of Los Angeles, Calif. for lewd and Lasciv acts with a minor under the age of 14. Gonzalez is being held at the El Centro Border Patrol Station awaiting removal proceedings and immigration charges.

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.