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  4. RGV Border Patrol seizes Marijuana, Cocaine, and arrest a Gang Member

RGV Border Patrol seizes Marijuana, Cocaine, and arrest a Gang Member

Release Date
Mon, 06/29/2020

EDINBURG, Texas – Over the weekend, Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents kept more than $3M in drugs and a gang member from entering the United States.

On Saturday, agents assigned to the Rio Grande City station saw a raft loaded with several subjects and bundles of contraband cross the Rio Grande into the United States near Escobares, Texas.  Agents tracked the foot prints of several subjects to a nearby residence. The agents requested assistance from the Escobares Police Department, who secured a search warrant. The Escobares Police Department seized six bundles of marijuana, weighing 275 lbs.  The subjects were not located. 

On Friday, Rio Grande City agents were conducting patrol operations near Roma, Texas, when they observed multiple subjects on a raft heading towards the U.S. riverbank with suspected bundles of marijuana. Once on land, the subjects saw the approaching agents and they fled south towards the Rio Grande, swimming back to Mexico. Agents seized four bundles of marijuana weighing 230 lbs.

In a third seizure, agents seized an additional 230 lbs. of marijuana near Garceno, Texas. These three seizures resulted in over 740 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of more than $590K.

In separate incidents, Weslaco Border Patrol agents arrested an 18th Street gang member and agents at the Javier Vega, Jr. Checkpoint seized 82 lbs. of cocaine valued at $2.6M. 

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.

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021