C.B.P. News Release

Border Patrol Agents Seize More than One Ton of Dope

(Tuesday, October 05, 2010)

Edinburg, Texas - U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector confiscated more than 2,600 pounds of marijuana in two separate seizures.

In La Casita, Texas, agents patrolling the Rio Grande on Monday saw a Dodge van drive toward the river. Moments later, agents spotted the van traveling away from the river with its headlights turned off. After agents disabled the vehicle by deploying a controlled tire deflation device, the driver jumped out and ran. Inside the van agents found 45 packages of marijuana weighing more than 2,000 pounds. The drugs were valued at close to $1.7 million and were turned over to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force.

In an incident early this morning, agents assigned to the McAllen Station observed numerous people carrying what appeared to be bundles of marijuana using night-vision devices. At about the same time a white sedan was seen driving towards the location of the suspected smugglers. When the agents stopped the vehicle, the driver absconded and ran toward the river along with the other individuals. A search of the immediate area revealed 10 bundles of marijuana with a total weight of more than 600 pounds. The marijuana was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector’s toll-free telephone number at 1-800-863-9382.

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.

Contacts For This News Release
Rio Grande Sector
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (956) 289-4934 or
(956) 289-4845 or
(956) 289-4998 or
(956) 289-4848

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2010_7.xml