Texas Border Business
MISSION, Texas – A human smuggler drove a vehicle into the Rio Grande in a desperate attempt to avoid arrest, following a failed smuggling incident.
Friday afternoon, McAllen Border Patrol Station agents responded to suspected criminal activity near Mission, Texas. Upon arrival, agents observed multiple subjects attempting to load into two nearby vehicles. Agents attempted to make contact with one of the vehicles, a tan Ford pickup. The driver of the Ford refused to stop, and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The driver momentarily stopped on the side of the road were agents observed nine subjects absconding into a nearby residence. The driver then continued down the road, until he drove the pickup into the river. The driver abandoned the sinking vehicle, with five passengers still inside.
As agents arrived near the riverbanks, they observed the passengers of the vehicle swimming towards the American side of the river, and the smuggler was seen swimming towards Mexico. Agents also apprehended the nine subjects who were dropped off near a residence. All the occupants of the Ford pickup were determined to be illegally present in the United States. Deputies from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office later advised they located the second vehicle from the smuggling attempt, and were able to apprehend four subjects, however the driver also absconded. McAllen agents responded to the location and determined all four subjects were illegally present in the United States.
Border Patrol is processing the subjects accordingly.
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
