BROWNSVILLE, Texas – On Thursday, February 22, 2018, agents assigned to the Fort Brown Border Patrol Station observed a vehicle leaving the Rio Grande at a high rate of speed. As agents responded, they discovered the driver had lost control and rolled the vehicle.
52 bundles of marijuana, weighing over 1,200 pounds, were found with the vehicle. The drugs are worth an estimated $969K.
The driver and juvenile passenger, both United States citizens, were apprehended at the scene and will face narcotic smuggling charges levied by the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office.
“Juveniles in our community are being exploited. They are making decisions that put themselves at risk and they don’t understand the consequences,” said Patrol Agent in Charge Letisia Camarillo of the Fort Brown Station.“Juveniles are viewed as cheap and disposable labor, a means for cartels to push their illicit product. They constantly recruit to replace kids that are arrested and prosecuted. It’s a horrific cycle and we need to come together to educate our children about the consequences.”
The marijuana was turned over the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and to help save lives by reporting suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.