Border Patrol in South Texas Completes Multiple Drug Seizures, Arrests

Edinburg, Texas Agents assigned to the U.S. Border Patrols Rio Grande Valley sector have netted more than 4 tons of marijuana in multiple seizures in the west side of the valley during the past few days. In the most notable seizure, which occurred Wednesday, agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Border Patrol station seized more than $1 million worth of marijuana in Rio Grande City, Texas, with the assistance of a Border Patrol K-9 team and Starr County deputies. After searching an abandoned house due to suspicious activity, the agents were led to a shed behind a neighboring residence where they found the marijuana. At about 1 a.m. today, McAllen Border Patrol Station agents observed a group of people carrying bundles and wading in the waters of the settling basin in Hidalgo, Texas. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine helicopter (McAllen Air Branch) arrived a short time later and was able to pinpoint five subjects hiding along the banks of the basin. The group was apprehended and consisted of two juveniles and three men. Near them, agents found four sugar sacks packed with marijuana. The three men and two teens all admitted to being in the U.S. illegally and claimed citizenship to Mexico. About 15 unrelated events that spanned from McAllen to west of Rio Grande City resulted in several apprehensions and seizures totaling more than 8,000 pounds of narcotics. The seizures had a cumulative value of more than $6.5 million. To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sectors toll-free telephone number at (800) 863-9382