Smugglers continue to push people and narcotics in the Rio Grande Valley

EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped several smuggling attempts throughout the Border Patrol agents stop smuggling attempts at the Sarita checkpointRio Grande Valley this weekend.

On June 24, agents working the Sarita Checkpoint referred a United States citizen driving a tractor trailer to secondary inspection as a result of a K-9 alert. Upon further inspection, agents discovered an illegal alien underneath the sleeper compartment and 31 bundles of marijuana weighing over 230 pounds along with five pounds of cocaine hidden in the

Later in the evening, Falfurrias agents working checkpoint operations referred a United States Citizen driving a tractor trailer hauling several vehicles to secondary inspection. Agents discovered 18 illegal aliens within three of the vehicles in transit.

In all, agents detected 11 narcotic and 17 alien smuggling attempts, resulting in the seizure of 1,226 pounds of marijuana, the arrest of 22 smugglers and the discovery of 49 smuggled aliens in just three days.

The Rio Grande Valley Sector currently has multiple campaigns focused on rescues and danger awareness, such as “Operation Big Rig” and “No Se Arriesgue” to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”