Desperate smugglers show uncanny persistence
Comments 2
March 10, 2009 - 11:52 PM
Ana Ley

HIDALGO — U.S. Border Patrol agents detained a group of frenzied drug smugglers after authorities surrounded them Tuesday morning on both sides of the Rio Grande.

Border Patrol agents in Hidalgo approached the would-be smugglers near the river. When the group spotted the agents, they drove toward Mexico and plowed their vehicle into the river, said agency spokesman John Lopez.

The vehicle quickly sank into the river and agents requested a boat to pull it from the water.

Before backup agents could arrive with the boat, however, the smugglers ran to the vehicle and tied a rope around it, Lopez said. Once the smugglers pulled the vehicle to the Mexico side, they began unloading packets of what appeared to be marijuana from it.

Mexican authorities arrived at the scene, seizing the bundles and arresting some of the individuals.

Four of the smugglers ran back to the U.S. side of the border, where agents quickly detained them.

U.S. officials were unable to determine how many were arrested on the Mexican side.

The individuals apprehended on the U.S. side will likely be deported to their home countries unless they have outstanding arrest warrants, Lopez said.

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