More than 1,000 pounds of marijuana were seized Saturday in Escobares, Texas, by agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station. The agents were working near the river when they saw several people loading large bundles of marijuana into a Chevy Tahoe. The agents approached the group and identified themselves as Border Patrol agents, at which time the smugglers dropped the bundles, jumped into the river and swam to Mexico.
Another large seizure was made Monday near Mission, Texas, when agents observed several people carrying bundles of marijuana. As agents approached, the smugglers abandoned the marijuana and ran toward the river.
A helicopter from the Office of Air and Marine as well as agents patrolling the river by boat responded to the scene to provide assistance. Agents thoroughly searched the area with a Border Patrol K-9 and found nearly 900 pounds of marijuana.
Additional seizures from Friday through Monday brought the total amount of marijuana seized to more than 10,600 pounds, with an estimated value of more than $8.5 million. The marijuana was turned over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.
