Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents, along with their K-9 partners, seized methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in three separate incidents at our Border Patrol Checkpoints.
On Wednesday afternoon, agents working at the Javier Vega Jr. Border Patrol Checkpoint referred a Dodge Ram to the secondary inspection area after a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the vehicle. During the inspection, agents discovered several bundles of cocaine and heroin concealed within the pickup. Agents arrested the driver and passenger and took them into the checkpoint for further processing. More than 10 pounds of cocaine and 2 pounds of heroin were seized with an estimated street value of nearly $860K. Border Patrol turned the case over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for federal prosecution.
Hours later, agents working at the Javier Vega Jr. Border Patrol Checkpoint boarded a commercial passenger bus to conduct an immigration inspection on all passengers. During the inspection, a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the interior of the bus. Upon inspection, agents located six bundles of cocaine hidden under some of the seats. Agents detained three United States citizens for further questioning. The cocaine weighed over 14 pounds and has an estimated street value of $458K. Border Patrol turned the case over to Homeland Security Investigations.
That same evening, agents at the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint referred a Honda CR-V to the secondary inspection area after a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the vehicle. Upon closer inspection, agents discovered 15 bundles of methamphetamine concealed within the vehicle. Agents arrested the driver and escorted her inside the checkpoint for further processing. The methamphetamine weighed over 19 pounds with an estimated street value of over $634K. Border Patrol turned the case over to DEA for federal prosecution.
Since 1987, the U.S. Border Patrol has utilized K-9 teams trained to detect concealed humans and narcotics.
Even with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, human smugglers continue to try these brazen attempts with zero regard for the lives they endanger nor to the health of the citizens of our great nation. The U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grande Valley Sector will continue to safeguard the nation and community against these criminal elements.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
