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Seven illegal immigrants were detained west of Falfurrias Thursday afternoon.

Border Patrol agents were monitoring an area on Creek Road and at around 12:30 p.m., they saw eight people with large bundles on their back.

Agents proceeded to chase them and a short while later were able to apprehend seven of them.

The bundles were identified as marijuana bundles and all together weighed 524 pounds.

Juan Carlos Rodriguez, David Quezada, Mario Quezada, Irenio Mendoza, Rodolfo Molina, Eloy Torres and Jesus Vega were all taken to the Falfurrias Border Patrol Station for processing.

Each undocumented immigrant gave their explanation as to why they were carrying the marijuana bundles.

Mario Quezada: He was recruited by an unknown individual from his hometown in Mexico who threatened to kill him if he did not cross illegally into the United States with the bundles.

Irenio Mendoza: He was asked to carry the bundles in order to pay off a debt. He told authorities that his life was threatened if he did not cooperate.

Rodolfo Molina and Eloy Torres: He said he had made arrangements with a smuggler so he could further his travel into the United States.

David Quezada, Jesus Vega and Juan Carlos Rodriguez: They each told authorities that they agreed to smuggle the bundles as a way to pay to cross into the United States illegally.