I.C.E. News Release

Holiday Doesn’t Slow Smugglers: Border Patrol Seizes $5 Million in Marijuana

(Friday, November 26, 2010)

Edinburg, Texas ─ More than $5.3 million worth of marijuana was confiscated in multiple seizures by U.S. Border Patrol agents throughout the Rio Grande Valley Sector in a 48-hour time period spanning the Thanksgiving holiday.

One of the largest seizures occurred Thursday at the Falfurrias Checkpoint, when a K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics. A subsequent search revealed more than 1,100 pounds of marijuana hidden within a spool of fiber optic wire. The driver and marijuana were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

In a separate incident Wednesday, agents from the McAllen Station seized more than 700 pounds of marijuana near Madero, Texas. Agents patrolling the Rio Grande observed a group of people carrying large backpacks. As soon as the group spotted the agents, they dropped their cargo and fled to Mexico. The marijuana was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

“Our agents work diligently day in and day out to protect the nation from these dangerous drugs,â€