EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents seized more than 1000 pounds of marijuana in a 24-hour period.
Monday afternoon, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint in Falfurrias, Texas, referred a Ford F150 to the secondary inspection area after a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the vehicle during the immigration inspection of the driver. Agents performing the secondary inspection discovered 15 pounds of marijuana concealed inside a spare tire worth an estimated $12K. The driver was placed under arrest and escorted inside the checkpoint to be processed accordingly. The marijuana and driver were later turned over to the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office.
That evening, Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station (RGC) agents responded to suspected illegal activity near La Rosita, Texas. As agents arrived to the area, they observed multiple subjects carrying large bundles of suspected narcotics. The smugglers abandoned the narcotics and absconded back to Mexico. An immediate search of the area led to the discovery of seven bundles of marijuana weighing 454 pounds worth an estimated $363K.
Additionally, last night, Fort Brown Border Patrol agents working near Brownsville, Texas, detected an illegal entry in the form of multiple shoe prints heading north from the U.S. riverbank. Agents followed the prints and observed four individuals carrying bundles of narcotics. Agents attempted to arrest the subjects; however, the smugglers abandoned the bundles and were seen swimming across the Rio Grande into Mexico. Agents recovered four abandoned bundles of marijuana. The marijuana weighed over 119 pounds and is worth an estimated $95K.
Early this morning, RGC agents working near Chapeno, Texas, observed shoe prints of several subjects coming from the Rio Grande and heading into an abandoned trailer. As agents searched around the trailer, they observed multiple bundles of narcotics stacked inside near a window. Agents seized over 447 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $358K.
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.
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