EDINBURG, Texas – In less than 24 hours, agents seized more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana and 577 Xanax pills.
Last night, Rio Grande City agents encountered subjects carrying several bundles of marijuana near the banks of the Rio Grande. The subjects dropped the bundles of marijuana and fled into Mexico. The marijuana weighed 365 lbs., valued at nearly $300K.
An hour later, Rio Grande City agents observed a Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck approach a known narcotics smuggling location. Agents observed multiple subjects exit the brush and load the bed of the pick-up truck with suspected narcotics. The vehicle left the area and agents pursued the truck, which eventually came to an abrupt stop nearby. The truck contained 570 lbs. of marijuana, worth an estimated $460K. The driver of the truck was found hiding in the nearby brush and arrested.
Also last night, agents in Roma, Texas, observed 14 subjects carrying bundles of marijuana through the dense vegetation. Responding agents seized 140 lbs. of marijuana, worth $113K. Agents tracked the subjects to the river bank and observed the subjects return to Mexico on a raft.
Additionally, agents assigned to the Javier Vega, Jr. checkpoint seized 577 Xanax pills in a separate incident.
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.
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.
Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter @CBPRGV, @USBPChiefRGV and @USBPDepChiefRGV.