Border Patrol: Smugglers use ladder to cross drugs
February 15, 2011 12:30 AM
By EMMA PEREZ-TREVINO, The Brownsville Herald

Surveillance stopped a pair of alleged drug smugglers from hauling about 273 kilos of marijuana over the border fence with the help of a ladder, public records reflect.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent on Thursday saw 10 people coming out of the Rio Grande carrying bundles and a ladder near the Rancho Grande Subdivision in La Paloma.

The agent saw the suspects use the ladder to get the bundles over the border fence, according to the complaint filed before U.S. Magistrate Judge Felix Recio in federal court.

The complaint states that the agent also saw a green minivan drive in the area on the opposite side of the border fence. The agent followed the vehicle to a vacant home site north of U.S. Hwy 281. The driver and passenger exited the vehicle and began to run away in an attempt to evade arrest.

The agent apprehended Mauro Beltran-Guevara and a person matching the driver’s description was located in the area, according to court records. He was identified as Angel Serrato-Garza.

Six cellophane-wrapped bundles of marijuana were located in the rear passenger compartment of the minivan, according to the complaint. Two other bundles were located on the south side of the border fence where the ladder had been placed.

The two men were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute the marijuana. They are being held without bond.

Their preliminary and detention hearing is slated for today at 1:30 p.m. in federal court before U.S. District Judge Ronald G. Morgan.


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