Drugs

Laredo Sector Border Patrol Retrieves Vehicle with Narcotics from River

U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo North Station averted a narcotics smuggling attempt in Laredo.

The incident occurred during the early morning when agents responded to an alert of two individuals with bundles crossing the Rio Grande River toward a truck parking lot in west Laredo. As agents arrived at the area, they observed a red minivan flee the lot toward the river. The driver drove off the road and into the river, where he abandoned the vehicle. With the assistance of several individuals who came to his aid from Mexico, the driver was able to abscond to the Mexican side of the river.

Laredo Sector Marine Operations and Department of Defense air support assisted agents in securing the vehicle. The minivan was ultimately retrieved from the river and agents recovered nine water-logged bundles of marijuana from it. The marijuana weighed approximately 902 lbs. with a value of $721,600. The narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the vehicle was seized by Border Patrol.