EDINBURG, Texas – In less than 24 hours, agents seized over 580 pounds of marijuana and more than eight pounds of cocaine.
Yesterday morning, McAllen agents assigned to the All-Terrain Vehicle unit working in Hidalgo, Texas, observed several shoe prints north of the Rio Grande in an area commonly used by human and narcotic smugglers. Agents followed the shoe prints and discovered several bundles of marijuana in the brush. Moments later, an Air and Marine Operations air asset advised agents of multiple subjects swimming back to Mexico. Agents seized 31 bundles of marijuana weighing more than 488 pounds, worth more than $390K.
That same evening, Rio Grande City agents on patrol near Rosita, Texas, observed a Chevrolet pickup on the river’s edge. As the agents approached the pickup, they observed several subjects swimming to Mexico. Agents searched the immediate area and discovered two bundles of marijuana. The drugs weighed more than 92 pounds, worth more than $74K.
Additionally, agents assigned to the checkpoints seized more than eight pounds of cocaine, worth more than $265K 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.