Border Patrol in Texas Seizures Net Almost $1 Million Worth of Marijuana

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Del Rio, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Del Rio, Texas sector recently seized more than 1,100 pounds of marijuana using different methods of enforcement including traffic checkpoints, roving patrol, and river patrol.

The largest seizure was made at the Del Rio station checkpoint. A detector canine alerted to the vehicle, and agents discovered the narcotics during a search of the vehicle. The vehicle was sent to secondary inspection, and as a second vehicle pulled up for immigration inspection, the canine alerted to this vehicle as well. It was later determined that the two vehicles were associated and running in tandem in the hopes one would make it through the checkpoint.

A total of 375 pounds of marijuana, valued at $300,000 was discovered hidden in the trunk of both vehicles concealed in the luggage and spare tire well. The contraband and subjects from both vehicles were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

In another drug seizure, Border Patrol agents were responding to activity on a Rio Grande River landing encountered six individuals walking out of the cane on a trail leading away from the river. The six individuals dropped what they were carrying and ran back to Mexico.

The agents recovered four large burlap sacks left on the trail. In the four burlap sacks there was more than 300 pounds of marijuana valued at over $240,000. The contraband was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for disposal.