CBP Officers Discover Video of the Assault During Basic Search of Subject’s Cellphone
LOS ANGELES—On Monday August 26th, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) intercepted a 19 year-old male citizen of Spain, who confessed to the killing of an individual he “caught with his girlfriend,” the day before in Mexico City.
The passenger arrived from Mexico City and was seeking admission into the United States as a visitor for pleasure under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). During the initial inspection, the CBP officer noticed that the passenger seemed nervous and fidgety and could not present a return ticket.
The CBP officer selected the passenger for an additional examination as an intended immigrant because of concerns that the passenger was not truthful regarding the purpose of his travel to the United States.
During the inspection relating to the passenger’s admissibility into the United States and following the discovery of an additional passport, CBP officers discovered a short video on the passenger’s cellphone depicting the passenger kicking an unresponsive subject.
The passenger told the CBP officers that prior to flying to the United States he had caught the subject with his girlfriend, hit him over the head with an object, and kicked him when he was on the ground. The passenger further stated that he had placed the body in the trunk of a vehicle.
CBP’s Joint Security Program (JSP) in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), contacted the Mexican Federal Police, which was unaware of the crime. Following receipt of the information from JSP, Mexican authorities located the crime scene and the body of the deceased victim in the trunk of a vehicle.
“This interception reflects CBP officers’ keen observational skills and attention to detail and their sharp investigative techniques, intuitiveness and persistence in discovering a subject that allegedly assaulted and killed another person in Mexico, less than 24 hours of his arrival into the United States,” said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “It is an extraordinary story of vigilance that underscores our critical border security mission.”
"Together the FBI and our U.S. and international law enforcement partners - combined resource capabilities and expertise to successfully safeguard the rule of law at home and abroad,” said Assistant Director in Charge Paul Delacourt of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.
“This case is an exceptional example of a successful collaboration with our national and international strategic partners, and the effective funneling of intelligence through the proper channels in solving a complicated deadly assault in a foreign country,” said Don R. Kusser, CBP Port Director of Los Angeles International Airport.
The Spanish national was refused entry into the United States and escorted back to Mexico City on August 27th by FBI and CBP officials.
In fiscal year (FY) 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Los Angeles apprehended a total of 323 suspects ranging from murderers, child molesters, drug traffickers to larceners.
The Office of Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers’ primary mission is anti-terrorism. They screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States.