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Joint Operation Nets Marijuana, Vehicles

Release Date
Fri, 10/16/2015

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A joint operation between agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations and U.S. Border Patrol, working alongside members of the Texas Army National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard and the Corpus Christi Police Department resulted in the seizure of almost 700 pounds of marijuana and two vehicles Tuesday.

Seized marijuana inside one of the load vehicles

Seized marijuana inside one of the load vehicles

That morning, Corpus Christi Air and Marine agents received information from a Texas National Guard air asset of a possible vessel beaching and offloading contraband. The AMO agents began coordinating a response plan with the Corpus Christi Border Patrol Station.  As the plan was implemented, the responding AMO agents who were patrolling the coastline on the Padre Island National Seashore, observed two large, sport utility vehicles traveling away from the beach.

The AMO agents contacted the Corpus Christi Police Department to request assistance for further evaluation of the suspect vehicle. When CPD officers attempted to pull the vehicles over, one of the SUVs complied, while the second sped off at a high rate of speed. Officers eventually stopped the vehicle after deploying spike strips.  The vehicles contained large bundles of marijuana, weighing nearly 700 pounds with an estimated value of more than $548,000. Corpus Christi Police Department arrested four subjects and seized the marijuana and the vehicles.

Marijuana confiscated as result of joint operation

Marijuana confiscated as result of joint operation

“We work closely with other law enforcement agencies at all levels and this arrest and seizure illustrates how effective our coordination is,” said CBP Director of Marine Operations in Corpus Christi Ashly Fenton. “We will continue to engage and coordinate with our many law enforcement partners in the detection, interception and disruption of transnational criminal activity.”

The Corpus Christi Marine Unit is part of the Corpus Christi Maritime Regional Coordinating Mechanism, and Joint Task Force-West South Texas Corridor, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021