TEXAS: US Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector seized close to 100 pounds of cocaine in a commercial bus at the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint.
The seizure occurred when agents were performing an immigration inspection on the passengers of a Greyhound bus. During the inspection, agents discovered two unclaimed duffle bags in the passenger area of the bus. Agents, with the assistance of a K-9 unit, searched the abandoned bags and discovered 15 cellophane wrapped bundles of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine. Agents could not link the duffle bags and the contents to any of the passengers. The total weight of the bundles is 82 pounds with an estimated value of more than $2.6 million. The cocaine will be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“Strategically placed Border Patrol checkpoints serve as a defense-in-depth security measure in order to degrade and disrupt transnational criminal organizations in our area of responsibility,” said Chief Patrol Agent Kevin W. Oaks. “The use of canines alongside keen Border Patrol agents creates a multi-layered inspection process at the checkpoints increasing our effectiveness in combating the continued exploitation of commercial buses by criminal organizations.”
The Rio Grande Valley Sector is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.
