Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents seize over 71 pounds of cocaine and 540 pounds of marijuana with a total estimated value of more than $2.7M.
Yesterday evening, RGV Border Patrol agents were conducting line watch operations near Brownsville, Texas, when they noticed foot sign of several individuals leading into a brushy area with thick vegetation. After following the foot sign into the thick vegetation, they discovered two abandoned bundles of marijuana. After an extensive search of the area, no subjects or other bundles were found. The seized marijuana weighed over 44 pounds and is valued at over $35K.
Shortly after that seizure, Fort Brown Border Patrol Station agents, with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard, seized two bundles of marijuana near the ship channel. Agents observed two subjects approaching the ship channel with what appeared to be marijuana bundles on their backs. When agents confronted the subjects, they abandoned the marijuana and absconded back into Mexico. The marijuana bundles weighed over 94 pounds with an estimated value of more than $75K.
About the same time, Harlingen Border Patrol Station agents conducting line watch duties spotted four subjects with bundles on their backs south of Bluetown, Texas. Agents moved in to interdict the narcotic smugglers and were able to apprehend one subject and seized four bundles of marijuana. Additional agents and a K-9 responded to assist search for additional subjects and/or narcotics. They located three additional bundles of marijuana abandoned nearby. No other apprehensions were made during this event. The narcotics weighed over 402 pounds and is valued at $322K.
In addition to yesterday’s marijuana seizures, RGV agents also seized 71 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $2.2M.
