EDINBURG, Texas – Since Friday, Border Patrol agents seized more than $3M dollars worth of drugs in five separate incidents.
Friday night, Rio Grande City agents working in Roma, Texas, observed multiple drug smugglers walking north of the Rio Grande. As the agents attempted to arrest them, the smugglers dropped the bundles and swam back to Mexico. Agents searched the immediate area and located four bundles of marijuana. The drugs weighed 181 pounds, worth more than $144K.
Moments later, Falfurrias agents working at the checkpoint referred a commercial bus for secondary inspection. At secondary, agents discovered more than 112 pounds of marijuana and more than 7 pounds of cocaine in unclaimed luggage following a Border Patrol K-9 alert. The marijuana is worth more than $89K and the cocaine is worth $270K.
The following night, Rio Grande City agents working in La Rosita, Texas, seized 22 pounds of marijuana and a Chevrolet pickup, after smugglers abandoned the truck near the Rio Grande. Agents searched the immediate area for additional drugs to no avail. The marijuana is worth more than $17K.
Additionally, since Friday, Falfurrias agents seized more than 80 pounds of cocaine, worth more than $2.5M in two separate incidents.
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382
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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.