EDINBURG, Texas – The month of April got off to a busy start for Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector, with agents seizing more than $3.5 million worth of marijuana, rescuing a woman, arresting two convicted sex offenders and confiscating a handgun in multiple incidents Wednesday.
Bunker discovered by Border Patrol Agents
The largest seizure occurred when agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station, along with a Texas Department of Public Safety Unit, followed tire tracks into the brush near Escobares. Inside a cluster of trees, agents found numerous pallets and used tires that were being used to conceal an underground bunker. Inside the bunker agents found more than 1,400 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated value of more than $1.1 million.
In a smaller marijuana seizure at the Kingsville Checkpoint, of approximately one third of a pound, agents confiscated a .45 caliber handgun and 250 rounds of ammunition. The driver and passenger were also arrested. Additional seizures brought the total amount of marijuana seized Wednesday to nearly 4,500 pounds.
Additionally, agents assigned to the Falfurrias Station saved the life of a Salvadoran woman. Upon finding the woman, agents began to perform first aid and determined that she needed further medical attention. She was transported to a hospital in Kingsville where she was treated for dehydration.
Seized marijuana from bunker
In addition to the seizures and the rescue, agents arrested two men who have prior convictions for sexual offenses. One of the men, a Mexican national, was arrested while attempting to illegally enter the United States near Rio Grande City. While performing a records check, agents learned the man had been convicted in Georgia of aggravated child molestation. The other man, an Ecuadoran national, was arrested near Encino. Agents later discovered that he had been convicted in New York for sexual assault/carnal abuse. Both men were referred to the Rio Grande Valley Sector Prosecutions Unit.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. To report suspicious activity, call the sector’s toll-free telephone number at 800-863-9382.