Nearly 3 tons of marijuana seized this weekend

March 14, 2011 4:06 PM
Naxiely Lopez
The Monitor

McALLEN — U.S. Border Patrol agents seized nearly 3 tons of marijuana this weekend during two separate incidents.

The largest of the seizures occurred Friday near Escobares, located about 10 miles west of Rio Grande City, after an agent spotted tire tracks from an all-terrain vehicle and footprints leading into the brush, according to a news release from the federal agency.

The agent followed the trail and found nearly 2,000 pounds of marijuana stashed throughout the brush, officials said. A freshly dug pit, lined with plywood, was also found near the scene.

A helicopter from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Air and Marine was called for assistance in moving the loads of marijuana.

The second seizure, also near Escobares, netted nearly 1,000 pounds of marijuana after agents observed suspicious activity near an abandoned mobile home, officials said. Upon searching the area, agents detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the home and saw several bundles in plain view through the back window.

Agents found the drugs, valued at nearly $790,000, after entering the abandoned trailer through an open door, officials said. A man, who was found hiding behind a stove, was arrested. The suspect is expected to be turned over to another, unspecified agency for further investigation.

Additional incidents throughout the sector pushed the total value of marijuana seized to an estimated value of more than $4.6 million.

http://www.themonitor.com/news/-48007--.html