TEXAS: Rio Grande City Border Patrol agents performing linewatch duties near Salineno, Texas were advised of nine subjects carrying what appeared to be bundles of narcotics.
The subjects were then observed loading the bundles into a truck. An Office of Air and Marine helicopter was able to assist by maintaining aerial surveillance of the truck as it traveled towards the small community of Falcon Heights.
Once the truck arrived at a house, Border Patrol agents along with Texas Department of Public Safety (TX DPS) Troopers approached the house and were able to see several bundles of narcotics inside the truck. The driver had abandoned the truck but was quickly apprehended. Another subject inside the house was also taken into custody. Additional bundles were discovered inside the house. Both subjects along with the narcotics and truck were transported to the Rio Grande City station for further processing. The nine subjects in Salineno absconded back to Mexico.
At the station, the driver was identified as an adult United States citizen male. The second subject was identified as an adult Mexican male who had been previously deported. A total of 129 bundles of marijuana were seized weighing 2,918 pounds with an estimated value of $2,339,400.00.
The driver and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Mexican national was processed as a previously deported alien and referred to the Rio Grande Valley Sector Prosecutions office.
