Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol Agents’ vigilance halts five alien smuggling attempts over the last several days.
On Saturday, agents working at the Falfurrias Checkpoint referred a tractor-trailer for secondary inspection after a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the cargo. An inspection of the trailer revealed nine illegal aliens attempting to conceal themselves within the commodity. Agents arrested the driver and escorted the illegal aliens to the station for processing. Agents determined the subjects to be from the countries of Ecuador and Mexico.
On Sunday, McAllen agents working in Mission, Texas, responded to a report of a suspected human smuggling event near the intersection of Los Ebanos Road and Military Highway. An air asset from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) located the load vehicle and relayed the information to mobile units. Shortly after, USCG informed agents that the occupants abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee the area. Deputies from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office arrived and assisted agents in apprehending the driver and five other illegal aliens. Agents transported all the subjects to the McAllen station for processing.
A short while later, McAllen agents working near Mission, Texas, observed a van pick up several suspected illegal aliens at a nearby park. As the van departed the area, agents conducted a vehicle stop and identified seven of the occupants as illegal aliens from the countries of Nicaragua, Honduras,
Monday night, an agent working at the Falfurrias Checkpoint referred a sports utility vehicle for a secondary inspection after a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the rear of the vehicle. An inspection of the luggage compartment revealed two Mexican nationals hidden within the luggage compartment. Agents arrested the driver, passenger,
Hours later, Falfurrias agents referred a white pickup for
Border Patrol referred all the cases to the Rio Grande Valley Sector Prosecutions for disposition.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector currently has multiple campaigns focused on rescues and danger awareness, such as “Operation Big Rig” and “No Se Arriesgue” to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”
