Border Patrol Stops a Car on I-5 Near Oceanside and Arrests Three Romanian Nationals, One Tied to a Balkan Crime Group
Agents say the three entered from Canada between ports of entry. A records check turned up an active Virginia credit card warrant and a link to a Rolex theft from a Los Angeles County YMCA locker room.
Border Patrol agents in Southern California say a routine vehicle stop led to three arrests and a suspected member of a Balkan organized crime group. Border Report carries the account from FOX 5/KUSI.
The stop. San Clemente Border Patrol agents pulled over a vehicle on Interstate 5 near Oceanside on Friday, Oct. 9. Three occupants, all Romanian nationals, were taken into custody. Agents determined they had allegedly entered the United States from Canada between ports of entry. They are described as being in the country illegally.
The records check. Agents identified one of the three as a member of a Balkan organized crime group, according to Border Patrol. That person also had an active Virginia warrant tied to the alleged illicit use of credit cards. Further investigation linked the group to the reported theft of a Rolex watch from a YMCA locker room in Los Angeles County in August.
The official line. "Border Patrol agents remain vigilant in identifying and stopping individuals who may pose a threat to our communities," said Justin De La Torre, chief patrol agent of the San Diego Sector. He called the arrest proof of "the value of strong border security, intelligence-driven enforcement, and close coordination among our law enforcement partners."
What happens next. All three were handed to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings. Anyone with information on suspicious activity can reach the San Diego Sector at 619-498-9900.
What is not known. The report does not name the three, say whether anyone has been charged with the watch theft, or say how agents tied the group to the Los Angeles County case. The organized crime label comes from Border Patrol.