Thanksgiving Week Proves to be an Active One for Agents

Edinburg, Texas ─ More than $5.3 million worth of marijuana was confiscated in multiple seizures by U.S. Border Patrol agents throughout the Rio Grande Valley Sector in a 72-hour time period spanning through the Thanksgiving holiday.

One of the largest seizures occurred Tuesday evening as agents from the McAllen Station seized close to 2,100 pounds of marijuana near Penitas, Texas. Agents patrolling the Rio Grande observed a pick-up truck and an SUV traveling north from the river at a high rate of speed. As the smugglers observed the agents approaching, they quickly came to a stop and abandoned their loads. The smugglers fled to Mexico leaving behind more than 170 bundles of marijuana with an estimated value of more than $1.6 million.

In a separate incident, Thanksgiving morning, agents from the Rio Grande City Station seized more than 900 pounds of marijuana near Escobares, Texas. A group of smugglers were loading large bundles into a vehicle when they spotted Border Patrol agents approaching. The smugglers, fearing apprehension, dropped their narcotics load and absconded into the thick brush. The marijuana seized was valued at more than $700,000.

Additional seizures within the past three days pushed the total amount of narcotics seized to more than 10,000 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $8.3 million. The narcotics were turned over to the appropriate agencies for further investigation.

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.