Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents disrupted six narcotic smuggling attempts in the Rio Grande Valley over a four day period. The narcotics are valued at over 1.4 million dollars.
Saturday evening, Rio Grande City agents were advised by a Department of Public Safety State Trooper that a red in color sedan was observed traveling at a high rate of speed away from an area near the Rio Grande. Agents responded and encountered an abandoned Ford Taurus with two bundles of marijuana inside. The bundles weighed over 68 pounds and have an approximate value of 54K.
Sunday morning, Rio Grande City agents responded to a report of suspected illegal activity near the Rio Grande. As agents arrived in the area, they observed a suspicious sports utility vehicle in the area and conducted a vehicle stop. As agents approached the vehicle, they observed multiple bundles of marijuana located throughout the vehicle. Agents arrested the driver and seized over 647 pounds of marijuana worth nearly $518K.
A few hours later, Fort Brown agents working in Brownsville, Texas responded to a report of a male subject carrying a bundle of narcotics near the Rio Grande. As agents moved in, they observed an additional male subject walking alongside the suspect with the bundle. Upon observing the agents, both subjects attempted to flee into Mexico. Agents were able to apprehend one subject and seize one bundle of marijuana. The subject was identified as a Mexican national illegally present in the United States. The seized bundle had an approximate weight of 23 pounds and a near value of $19K. The second subject successfully fled into Mexico.
That same day, Rio Grande City agents were advised of possible narcotics smuggling activity near La Grulla, Texas. Agents immediately responded and discovered six abandoned bundles of marijuana. A search of the area produced no additional narcotics or suspects. The seized bundles of marijuana weighed over 345 pounds and are valued at 276K.
On Monday, Rio Grande Valley agents working near Fronton, Texas encountered five subjects carrying four bundles of marijuana. The subjects dropped the bundles and proceeded to flee into Mexico. The seized bundles weighed 101 pounds and are worth more than $80K.
On Tuesday, Rio Grande City agents on patrol near Las Barreras, Texas, observed several drug smugglers load bundles of marijuana into a Cadillac sedan. After loading the vehicle, the driver fled the area at a high rate of speed. Shortly thereafter, the driver turned the vehicle around and traveled south to the Rio Grande after seeing the responding agents. Upon arriving at the river, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled to Mexico. Agents searched the vehicle and discovered more than 619 pounds of marijuana worth nearly $496K.
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.
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.
