Border Patrol Agents Encounter Armed Drug Smugglers in Texas

Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents encountered an armed drug smuggler after they illegally crossed the border from Mexico into South Texas. Agents recovered two firearms and two bundles of marijuana and methamphetamine valued at more than $270,000.

Brownsville Station agents observed a group of illegal aliens crossing the border into the U.S. As the agents made contact, they apprehended a Mexican national with a loaded firearm in his possession, according to Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol officials.

The agents arrested the Mexican national and began a search of the area. The search uncovered two bundles of marijuana, a small bundle of methamphetamine, an air compressor, and another firearm abandoned by one in the party.

The agents also found two additional Mexican nationals and a U.S. citizen juvenile hiding in the brush, officials stated.

Agents inspected the air compressor and found two additional bundles of marijuana that the smugglers allegedly stashed inside.

The smugglers allegedly carried more than 65 pounds of marijuana into the U.S. from Mexico in addition to seven pounds of methamphetamine. Officials estimated the value of the marijuana at $52,000 and the methamphetamine at about $220,000.

The agents transported the suspects to the Brownsville Station for processing and seized the drugs and firearms. The Drug Enforcement Agency will lead the investigation and submit the case to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas for possible prosecution.

Drug cartels frequently force migrants to carry drugs as part of paying off the debt incurred for being smuggled into the U.S. It is not clear if this is the situation in this case.