EL CENTRO AGENT CHARGED WITH DRUG FELONY

A U.S. Border Patrol agent for the El Centro sector is in custody after
allegedly being caught with almost 750 pounds of marijuana in his marked
patrol vehicle.

Luis Francisco Higareda was arraigned on a felony charge of possession with
intent to distribute a controlled substance Thursday in El Centro,
according to Deborah Hartman, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in
San Diego.

According to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Higareda was
arrested in Holtville, Calif., Tuesday and 10 green duffel bags filled with
a total of 749.7 pounds of marijuana were found in his vehicle.

Also in the vehicle was Marcelino Verdugo-Cota, a Mexican citizen with no
legal status in the U.S. He faces the same charge as Higareda.

The two men have a detention hearing Tuesday in El Centro, Hartman said.

According to the complaint, a special agent for the Department of Homeland
Security received information Tuesday that an exchange of 900 pounds of
marijuana was scheduled to be made at the border. The information said the
drugs would be loaded into a marked Border Patrol unit and taken by an
on-duty agent to a house in Calexico, Calif.

At 10 p.m., surveillance by the DHS and FBI observed the Border Patrol
vehicle travel to the border and meet another vehicle. Suspecting that an
exchange had been made, authorities chased the marked vehicle at high
speeds toward Holtville.

A traffic stop was made in Holtville, and Higareda was at the wheel.

Danielle Suarez, public information officer for the Border Patrol El Centro
sector, said it was policy not to release personal information about agents.

"I can confirm that an agent was arrested," Suarez said. "And that we are
going to cooperate fully."

Suarez said Border Patrol would comment further when the investigation was
complete.