Border Patrol seizes nearly $2M worth of Marijuana in the RIo Grande Valley

EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped several narcotic smuggling attempts resulting in the seizure of more than a ton of marijuana over the weekend.

On Saturday morning, Rio Grande City agents responded to the report of a narcotic smuggling attempt near La Grulla, Texas. Responding agents searched along the Rio Grande for any evidence of an illegal entry. While patrolling, agents located an abandoned motorized scooter pulling a garden trailer loaded with 20 bundles of marijuana. The marijuana weighed 230 pounds, worth an estimated $183K.

That afternoon, McAllen agents working near Mission, Texas, observed a white pickup traveling toward a rural area south of the levee. Minutes later, agents observed the same pickup leave the area at a high rate of speed with bundles of marijuana in the bed. Mobile units responded and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver failed to yield and a pursuit ensued. The chase came to an end after the driver returned to the river and abandoned the vehicle. Agents witnessed the driver swim back to Mexico empty-handed. Inside the vehicle, agents seized over 770 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $619K.

Over the weekend agents disrupted a total of 11 narcotic smuggling attempts resulting in the seizure of over 2,400 pounds of marijuana.

The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.