September 16, 2002

 Border Patrol National Apprehensions down over 28%
    Nationwide drug seizures surpass $1.3 billion

   WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Border Patrol today released official figures for apprehensions and drug seizures during the first 10 months of Fiscal Year 2002 and gave a preliminary look at the figures for August 2002.

   During the first 10 months of Fiscal Year 2002, official figures indicate that agents apprehended 799,281 undocumented immigrants attempting to enter the United States illegally, which is down 28 percent from the Fiscal Year 2001 apprehensions of 1,116,698 for the same 10 months. Preliminary totals for the month of August 2002 indicate 85,257 apprehensions compared to last years monthly total of 88,057 apprehensions, a reduction of roughly 3 percent. Included in these apprehensions were undocumented immigrants who were citizens of 160 different countries.

   During the first 10 months of Fiscal Year 2002, the Border Patrol seized 1,160,804 pounds of Marijuana valued at $ 954,853,755.00, and 11,138 pounds of cocaine valued at $352,677,374. Seizures of other drugs during the same period were valued at $35,370,666 bringing the total dollar value of drugs seized during the first 10 months of Fiscal Year 2002 to $1,342,901,795.00.

   Preliminary figures for August 2002 indicate agents seized an additional 24,165.736 pounds of marijuana valued at $ 19,332,588.80, and 1,271.366 pounds of cocaine valued at $40,683,712. -INS-