Edinburg, Texas ─ Nearly $15 million worth of marijuana was confiscated by U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector in multiple seizures over the past four days.
Border Patrol agents seized 1,400 pounds of marijuana near the border in southwest Texas.
The largest seizure was made Tuesday at the Falfurrias Checkpoint when a Border Patrol K-9 indicated that a tractor-trailer possibly contained contraband. Upon further inspection agents found nearly 5,000 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated value of more than $3.9 million, hidden within the trailer.
Additionally, more than 2,500 pounds of marijuana were seized Wednesday under similar circumstances at the Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita, Texas, by agents assigned to the Kingsville Station.
The drivers of the vehicles from the two checkpoint seizures were arrested and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the marijuana, for further investigation.
Agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station foiled a large marijuana smuggling attempt Thursday when they saw several people cross the Rio Grande and walk through a wooded area toward Fronton, Texas. When agents approached the group and identified themselves, the smugglers fled into the thick brush, leaving behind more than 1,400 pounds of marijuana.
Additional seizures throughout the sector pushed the total amount of marijuana seized from Monday through Thursday to nearly 9.5 tons.
To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector’s toll-free telephone number at (800) 863-9382.
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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
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