HOUSTON, Texas — More than 1,700 pounds of marijuana were seized by Border Patrol agents in Texas’ Del Rio Sector in just one week–the drugs have a street value of $1.3 million. The massive bust comes amid the continuing border crisis, which has involved tens of thousands of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. since October 2013.
One large marijuana seizure happened last week when agents witnessed several suspected illegal immigrants run on foot into Mexico, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) press release. The individuals, however, left behind several bags full of marijuana, which collectively weighed 543 pounds.
Earlier in the month, agents reportedly discovered abandoned bundles of marijuana on a trail near Eagle Pass. The bundles appeared to be “leading away from the Rio Grande River,” according to CBP. 405 pounds of abandoned marijuana, with a street value of $324,160, were confiscated on the trail.
One hour later, more abandoned marijuana-filled packages were discovered. This time, however, officers found the drugs–which weighed 345 pounds–on a ranch.
An additional 448 pounds of marijuana were seized from the back of a woman’s vehicle. The drugs were covered under a blanked, CBP said.
Large marijuana seizures have been frequent near the U.S.-Mexico border this year. Breitbart Texas reported in the Spring that $10 million drug busts are now a weekly occurrence in South Texas.
Many have speculated that Mexican cartels and drug smugglers are having a field day since the border is arguably porous. Breitbart Texas Managing Director Brandon Darby recently reported that in one Texas Border Patrol sector, up to 70 percent of Border Patrol agents are currently taking care of the influx of unaccompanied minors from Central America, instead of manning the U.S.-Mexico border.
In July, Breitbart Texas took grassroots leaders from across the state on a border tour, as to witness firsthand how unsecured the border is in many areas.
Darby said of this effort, “The federal government, the State of Texas, and the media have presented a picture that the increase in security in the Rio Grande Valley sector is somehow representative of an increase in security along all of Texas’ border with Mexico. The Laredo sector is the next sector over and it is largely wide open. We wanted grassroots leaders to witness for themselves what the reality is and we wanted them to feel what the often solo agents feel out there along the river.”
Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate.
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