Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley had an eventful weekend when it came to arrests and seizures, according to Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. This occurred as part of their ongoing effort to secure the border region.
"WKND RECAP! Our #RGV Border Patrol Agents are doing a phenomenal job everyday, doing their best to secure 277 miles of border region! Super proud of my RGV Team! 1,219 Migrant Apprehensions 96 Gotaways 8 Human Smuggling Cases 11 Human Smugglers 9 Narcotics Seizures 1 Large Group", said Gloria I. Chavez.
The Rio Grande Valley is a hotbed for Border Patrol activity due to its strategic location. The sector that agents patrol in the Rio Grande Valley is one of the busiest in the country and local Border Patrol agents often work together with other state agencies to thwart criminal activity, according to a news release.
Last month saw significant cooperation between different departments leading to substantial narcotics seizures. In August, the agency teamed up with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety to seize 121 pounds of narcotics, according to a news release. Law enforcement officials witnessed suspected drugs being delivered to a truck that was parked near the Rio Grande.
The arrest operation involved careful observation and tactical intervention by multiple law enforcement agencies. According to the media release, as the driver started to move the vehicle away from the river, agents swarmed the area, and the suspect turned the truck back toward the riverbank. The suspect exited the pick-up and swam back to Mexico, but law enforcement officials were able to confiscate the narcotics in large quantities from within an abandoned truck.
Moreover, the value of these seizures has significant implications for drug trafficking networks. Roughly 121 pounds of cocaine were found by agents within two nylon sacks containing 50 bricks, according to the news release. The estimated street value of the confiscated drugs totaled $3.8 million dollars. The narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Gloria I. Chavez, Chief Patrol Agent, praised the successful inter-agency collaboration and its impact on local safety. "Outstanding job by our Border Patrol agents working alongside our state partners to keep our communities safe from dangerous drugs," said Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez.
A review of this year's statistics paints a staggering picture of narcotics interceptions at a national level. This fiscal year, customs and border agents across the country have seized 27,000 pounds fentanyl, 140,000 pounds of methamphetamine, 81,100 pounds of cocaine, 150,000 pounds of marijuana according to the agency’s website concerning drug seizures.
