C.B.P. News Release

Agents Average of $3.7 Million in Narcotics Seized Per Day for 10 Days in Texas

(Tuesday, January 19, 2010)

Agents in Weslaco, Texas seized 2,273 pounds of marijuana from a van intentionally submerged in the Rio Grande River by smugglers on January 15.

Beginning Friday, January 8 and ending January 18 agents made multiple seizures of marijuana and cocaine valued at more than $37 million, an average of more than $3.7 million a day. The seizures spanned across the Rio Grande Valley from Brownsville to Rio Grande City and north to the Falfurrias and Kingsville Border Patrol Checkpoints.

The U.S. Border Patrol in the Rio Grande Valley Sector experienced a significant increase in marijuana seizures compared to the same time frame in 2009. Cocaine seizures also showed an increase adding to the total value of the narcotics.

All narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

To report suspicious activity, contact 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 ... 010_10.xml