Border Alert: 5 Mexicans Headed to S.F. to Sell Explosives

A U.S. Border Patrol "Intelligence Alert" issued to law enforcement authorities on January 12 warned of five Mexican nationals traveling to San Francisco to sell explosives to an unknown Iraqi national. The memo provided specific details.

From DailyBulletin.com:

"The source stated that five individuals would attempt entry by foot with an unknown quantity of plastic explosives hidden in the soles of their shoes. The report indicated the group's final destination is San Francisco. Once in the city, they are to sell the explosives to an unknown Iraqi national," the memo stated.

On Jan. 11, at about 5 p.m., Tucson, Ariz.-sector headquarters received information from a "source of unknown reliability" that the five individuals would travel from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, en route to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, according to the document.

The source also stated that the five individuals would be driving in a white Nissan Maxima that has Sonora license plates. The source indicated to law enforcement officials that one of the individuals is named Vicente Banuelos, who is a Mexican citizen from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. The intelligence alert asked officials to watch for Banuelos - a photograph and fingerprints of a man by the same name were issued with the alert. But it is uncertain whether those are from the same individual authorities are seeking.

Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, would not comment on the documents late Friday evening.

Apparently, a copy of the memo was obtained by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin this week. Since customs and border officials declined to comment, it's assumed that the alert for the five Mexicans is still in effect. Notably, Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke stated there are doubts regarding the credibility of the threat.