LAREDO, TEXAS – On June 17, at approximately 8:25a.m., Border Patrol agents from the Laredo Sector seized 139 pounds of marijuana during a smuggling attempt.
Dodge Caravan in the Rio Grande after a bail out
Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo South Station were working line-watch operations when they observed a gray Dodge Caravan leaving the river bank area. Agents approached the vehicle in an attempt to further investigate the suspicious activity when the driver began making turns around a neighborhood, indication of a possible smuggling attempt. The vehicle continued towards the river area and drove into the Rio Grande River where several subjects, including the driver, exited the vehicle and absconded back into Mexico.
A search of the area was conducted and agents were able to recover two bundles of contraband near the U.S. river banks. The two bundles contained a total of 139.1 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $111,200.00USD. The Government of Mexico (GOM) authorities were advised of the subjects returning to Mexico with additional bundles. GOM authorities conducted a search on the Mexican river banks and recovered three bundles of contraband. All subjects involved in the smuggling attempt absconded, no arrests were made.
The Laredo Border Patrol Sector is part of the Joint Task Force West-South Texas Corridor, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.
To report suspicious activity such as drug and/or alien smuggling, contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free telephone number at 1-800-343-1994.