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  4. Border Patrol Seizes Nearly $2M Worth of Marijuana in the Rio Grande Valley

Border Patrol Seizes Nearly $2M Worth of Marijuana in the Rio Grande Valley

Release Date
Mon, 12/03/2018

EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped several narcotic smuggling attempts resulting in the seizure of more than a ton of marijuana over the weekend.

On Saturday morning, Rio Grande City agents responded to the report of a narcotic smuggling attempt near La Grulla, Texas. Responding agents searched along the Rio Grande for any evidence of an illegal entry. While patrolling, agents located an abandoned motorized scooter pulling a garden trailer loaded with 20 bundles of marijuana. The marijuana weighed 230 pounds, worth an estimated $183K.

That afternoon, McAllen agents working near Mission, Texas, observed a white pickup traveling toward a rural area south of the levee. Minutes later, agents observed the same pickup leave the area at a high rate of speed with bundles of marijuana in the bed. Mobile units responded and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver failed to yield and a pursuit ensued. The chase came to an end after the driver returned to the river and abandoned the vehicle. Agents witnessed the driver swim back to Mexico empty handed. Inside the vehicle, agents seized over 770 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $619K.

Over the weekend agents disrupted a total of 11 narcotic smuggling attempts resulting in the seizure of over 2,400 pounds of marijuana.

The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382. 

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter at @CBPRGV.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021