PROGRAM TO REDUCE CONTRABAND TRANSPORTATION IN COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
UNDERWAY IN NM, WEST TEXAS

EL PASO - A campaign to reduce the overall transportation of illicit
contraband in commercial vehicles in Texas and New Mexico called
"Texas Hold'em" is in full swing in west Texas and New Mexico.

The collaborative initiative, described as a crackdown on commercial
truckers who are convicted of smuggling drugs or humans, is proving
to be an effective deterrent to smuggling activity in the region,
according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release.

El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Victor M. Manjarrez, Jr. said, "The
goal of this operation is not to target truckers, but instead to
discourage those who may use the trucking industry to exploit and
traffic illegal contraband through commercial avenues."

In the El Paso Sector, a total of five commercial driver's license
suspensions have been executed in New Mexico as part of the Texas
Hold'em Initiative:

. Their Commercial Drivers Licenses were suspended for a period of one year.

. Two of the truckers were sentenced to three years probation.

. Two others were sentenced to two years probation.

. One received 212 days (time to be served in jail).

An intensive public and media campaign carrying the message, "Don't
Gamble Away your Livelihood", has been conducted throughout the
border region to promote the initiative that focuses on awareness of
smuggling crimes as they relate to commercial license drivers in the
area. The primary objectives of the Texas Hold'em campaign are:
increase public and trucker awareness of smuggling penalties; reduce
the number of commercial vehicles used for alien and drug smuggling;
prevent potential dangerous smuggling attempts and subsequent deaths
or injuries; expand partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies.

Since fiscal year 2008, El Paso Sector Border Patrol has provided
outreach to area truck driving schools and other commercial
enterprises in an effort to educate truck drivers about criminal
penalties they may face if convicted of felony alien or narcotics
smuggling, and the subsequent risk they run of losing their
commercial drivers licenses as a result.

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.