Del Rio Border Patrol Sector Agents Seize Heroin, Marijuana Worth Nearly $1.5 Million

Del Rio, Texas – Del Rio Border Patrol Sector agents seized more than 1,703 pounds of marijuana and nearly one and a half pounds of heroin worth close to $1.5 million dollars over the past week.

Saturday, Eagle Pass South Station agents tracking a group of suspected undocumented immigrants encountered five abandoned military-style duffel bags hidden near a creek. The bags contained 281.83 pounds of marijuana worth $225,464. A search of the immediate area led to no further apprehensions or seizures.

Sunday, Carrizo Springs Station agents working in an area ranch encountered seven abandoned green duffel bags. A further search of the bags revealed a total of 290.9 pounds of marijuana worth $232,720.

Monday, Eagle Pass Station Marine Unit observed several subjects swimming across the Rio Grand River pulling several large floating bundles into Mexico. As agents approached them aboard an airboat, the subjects released the bundles and swam back into Mexico. Agents recovered four bundles containing more than 264 pounds of marijuana worth over $211.900.

Tuesday, Carrizo Springs Station agents working in an area ranch discovered five abandoned duffel bags containing 226.9 pounds of marijuana worth $181,520.

Wednesday, Eagle Pass Station agents observed several subjects running away from a sedan parked on the side of a highway and disappear into the brush. Agents followed the sedan as it drove away and initiated a vehicle stop. The vehicle failed to yield to the agents and became immobilized in an irrigation canal after it drove off the roadway in an attempt to elude capture. The driver was arrested and agents seized 276.4 pounds of marijuana worth $221,120 found inside the vehicle.

Also Wednesday, Eagle Pass South Station agents working at a traffic checkpoint encountered a suspicious subject aboard a commercial bus. Further investigation revealed that the subject was transporting more than 1.3 pounds of heroin concealed on his person worth over $106,550. Thursday, agents working in an area ranch discovered one abandoned duffel bag containing nearly 60 pounds of marijuana worth approximately $47,360.

Also Thursday, Eagle Pass Station agents observed one subject crossing the highway with two military-style duffel bags. When agents approached the subject, he along with several other subjects absconded back to Mexico. A search of the area led to the discovery of seven military-style duffel bags containing 303.6 pounds of marijuana worth $242,880.

All cases were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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.