EDINBURG – In less than 24 hours, Border Patrol agents seized more than 900 pounds of marijuana and arrested five smugglers in connection with their illegal activities.
The agency said on Tuesday night, Fort Brown agents working near Brownsville, received information of an ongoing drug smuggling attempt. Agents requested the assistance of the small Unmanned Aircraft Systems team (sUAS) to search an agricultural field. A search of the area by agents and the sUAS led to the arrest of three Mexican nationals and seized nearly 100 pounds of marijuana. The drugs are worth more than $79,000.
On Wednesday morning, National Guard personnel assisted the Rio Grande City station. They observed several subjects walking north of the Rio Grande. Agents responded after National Guard personnel observed the trespassers and provided the location.
As the agents attempted to arrest the smugglers, they dropped the bundles and escaped to Mexico. Agents seized four bundles of marijuana, weighing more than 230 pounds, and worth approximately $184,000, said the agency.
In addition to the mentioned incidents, Rio Grande Valley agents seized approximately 610 pounds of marijuana, worth approximately $490,000 in two separate incidents.
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.
