MOTHER, CHILDREN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO SMUGGLE POT

FABENS, Texas - A West Texas mother and her two young children are accused
of trying to smuggle marijuana from Mexico into the United States, U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officials said Wednesday.

After the Fabens family's sport utility vehicle was chosen for an X-ray
inspection at a border checkpoint Tuesday, agents noticed an unusual bulge
in the 11-year-old boy's waist area. When agents asked the boy to unzip his
jacket, they spotted a bundle of marijuana around his midsection.

Border agents determined the boy was carrying four marijuana-filled
bundles, and his 9-year-old sister was carrying two. Their 36-year-old
mother also was carrying four bundles.

Deputies from the El Paso Sheriff's Office arrested the mother and her
11-year-old son.

The woman, whose name was not released, was charged with three counts of
child endangerment and possession of marijuana of over 5 pounds but under
50 pounds, sheriff's spokesman Rick Glancey said. Information about the
11-year-old was not available because he is a juvenile.

The 9-year-old was turned over to her 19-year-old sister, who was riding in
the vehicle but wasn't carrying marijuana. The older daughter also got
custody of her 4-year-old brother, who was in the SUV and was not carrying
drugs.

"It's sad and disturbing to see a parent use her children to smuggle drugs
into the country," said Barry Miller, Fabens Port Director for U.S. Customs
and Border Protection.