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Laredo, Texas - Commercial truckers driving into and out of Laredo, Texas now have a couple of reminders that they should not gamble with their livelihoods by hauling illegal aliens or drugs.

Two billboards were erected today along Interstate Highway 35 as part of Laredo Sector Border Patrol’s effort to make truckers aware of the Texas Hold ‘Em initiative. One of the billboards is located at the junction of I-35 and Loop 20. It is visible to northbound traffic. The other billboard, which targets southbound drivers, is located north of Cotulla.

Both of the signs carry the blunt message behind the initiative: “Smuggle Aliens… Smuggle Drugs… Lose Your Commercial Driver’s License in Texas.”

Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Carlos X. Carrillo led the effort to unite several federal and state agencies to establish the program that uses existing state laws to revoke the Commercial Driver’s Licenses of truck drivers who are convicted of federal charges for smuggling people or drugs. Working through the Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License Division, the program will revoke the commercial license of any driver convicted of felony smuggling transportation charges regardless of the state of issuance of the license. The initiative was announced June 19 by Texas Gov. Richard Perry during a press conference that also included the chiefs of the Border Patrol’s five Texas sectors.

During the current fiscal year which began on Oct. 1, 2007, Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents have intercepted 240 commercial tractor trailers attempting to smuggle aliens or drugs. These cases have resulted in the rescue of 1,309 smuggled aliens, the seizure of 56,359 pounds of marijuana and the seizure of 1,483 pounds of cocaine.