FALFURRIAS, TEXAS—U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector seized more than 3,800 pounds of marijuana that was hidden in frozen mango pulp Monday.
The seizure occurred at the Falfurrias Checkpoint on U.S. Highway 281 North. During an immigration inspection of the driver of a tractor-trailer, a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics. Upon further inspection, agents found marijuana hidden within one-gallon buckets of frozen mango pulp. Agents attempted to extract the marijuana from the pulp; however, since it was frozen they had to wait for the pulp to thaw before they could extract the marijuana from the sticky goop. Once the pulp thawed, agents removed the marijuana, which ended up weighing more than 3,800 pounds, with an estimated value of more than $3 million.
Additionally, since Sunday, agents have seized nearly 7,500 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated value of nearly $6 million.
Another large seizure occurred near Salineno on Monday when agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station spotted smugglers loading marijuana into a horse trailer on the banks of the Rio Grande.
As the agents approached, the smugglers crossed the river to Mexico, abandoning more than 1,300 pounds of marijuana.
To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector's toll-free telephone number at (800) 863-9382.