
(Deming) – Two vehicles reported stolen out of Albuquerque were recovered at the Columbus port of entry Thursday headed to Mexico, and an Albuquerque man and teen have been charged with the crimes.
31-year-old Vicente Villela of Albuquerque and a 17-year-old boy are both facing charges of receiving or transferring stolen motor vehicles. Villela also was wanted on two Bernalillo County warrants for failure to appear.
Villela was stopped after trying to elude U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.
Officers spotted a 2005 Dodge Durango approaching the border at about 6:30 Thursday morning where they were conducting southbound operations. They then saw the driver stop and turn the vehicle around, driving north, away from the inspection site.
Border Patrol agents followed the vehicle and stopped it two miles north of the border on Highway 11. A check showed the vehicle was reported stolen in Albuquerque.
The teen was arrested at about 8:30 Thursday morning after driving a 2003 Chevrolet pickup to the border inspection site. A records check showed it, too, was reported stolen in Albuquerque.