Border officials said they arrested two murder suspects and a convicted felon who is a member of the Latin Kings gang while conducting regular screenings at U.S. entry points in California and Texas this past week.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that the murder suspects — a man and a woman whom the agency’s statement did not name — were arrested on April 15 soon after they drove up to an immigration checkpoint in Calexico, California.

Agents smelled marijuana coming from the car, which is still a federal crime, and referred the vehicle for an additional screening. That’s where search dogs found a stash of weed and three handguns inside the vehicle, one of which was stolen.

Border officials said they arrested the man at the scene over the stolen firearm. The female passenger was allowed to drive off, but was arrested by California Highway Patrol soon after on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Authorities in Texas soon issued warrants for the man and woman in connection with a murder in Dallas, according to the agency. Both are in jail in Imperial County, California, and await extradition to Texas.

An unrelated screening in the Lone Star State days later would lead to the arrest of a Latin Kings gang member and ex-con.

CBP officials said that they took 26-year-old Mexican national Heriberto Bustos-Bautista into custody near the Interstate 35 checkpoint in Laredo on Wednesday.

He had previously been convicted of aggravated battery and use of a deadly weapon. Bustos-Bautista served 8 years in prison for his offenses and was eventually deported.  

If convicted of re-entering the U.S. as an ex-felon, Bustos-Bautista could get as long as 20 years in prison.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.