EDINBURG, Texas – Border Patrol Agents continue to intercept dangerous drugs.
Tuesday evening, Rio Grande City (RGC) agents working in La Grulla, Texas, working near the river discovered two abandoned bundles of marijuana. A thorough search of the area revealed five subjects in the immediate vicinity of the bundles. The five subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico and El Salvador who had illegally entered the country. The marijuana weighed approximately 93 pounds with an estimated street value of over $74K.
Yesterday afternoon at the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint, agents referred a commercial Greyhound bus for inspection. A service K-9 alerted to an abandoned black duffel bag located in the cargo area of the bus where three bundles were concealed inside a wooden chessboard and tortilla press. The contents of the bundles tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl. The bundles weighed approximately 35 pounds and have an estimated street value of $960K.
Additionally, agents working at the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint seized over 200 bottles of non-prescribed Xanax.
Later that day, a narcotics investigation led Rio Grande Valley Sector agents and local law enforcement to a Roma, Texas, residence where they discovered three bricks of marijuana and a .40 caliber firearm. The resident of the home was determined to be a citizen of Mexico and illegally in possession of a firearm. The marijuana weighed approximately 35 pounds and had an estimated street value of over $28K.
The narcotics seized by Border Patrol were turned over to investigating agencies, and all subjects were processed accordingly.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector currently has multiple campaigns focused on rescues and danger awareness, such as “Operation Big Rig” and “No Se Arriesgue” to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”
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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