A manhunt near Progreso Lakes has ended without results and was more than likely was a hoax to district authorities.
Authorities mobilized a helicopter and personnel from several agencies after a receiving a report that armed men were spotted crossing the Rio Grande with guns.
U.S. Border Patrol agents reported it all happened one mile west of the Progreso International Bridge in the community of Progreso Lakes.
Border Patrol agents were patrolling the river when they were flagged down by a group of people on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande shortly before 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
The people told Border Patrol agents they saw armed men swim across the river and head into the United States.
Border Patrol agents are searching the area with the help of Texas Department of Public Safety state troopers and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air & Marine Protection helicopter to help search.
Border Patrol spokesman agent Daniel Milian told Action 4 News that the search was called off without results shortly before 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Milian said smugglers sometimes try to misinform Border Patrol agents to distract them from a real smuggling attempt in another area.
He said Border Patrol agents treated the report as genuine but now believe it may have been a hoax to district authorities.
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