Uvalde Border Patrol checkpoint stop nets $230,000 cocaine cache
Del Rio, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Uvalde Station seized nearly a quarter-million dollars worth of cocaine Friday after finding the narcotics hidden in a car.
Shortly after 4 p.m. Friday afternoon, a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero approached the Highway 90 immigration checkpoint near Uvalde. While agents were conducting routine immigration inspections, a Border Patrol canine alerted to the possible presence of contraband in the vehicle. An intensive search revealed that the battery had been tampered with. Agents removed the battery and recovered four packages that contained a total of 7.2 pounds of cocaine, worth an estimated $230,400. The driver, a 42-year-old Del Rio man, was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.
In other recent enforcement activity, U.S. Border Patrol agents throughout Del Rio Sector seized more than 1,057 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated value of $847,520.
On May 26, Uvalde Station agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on a Pontiac Grand Prix and a Nissan Sentra. After a short pursuit, the driver of the Grand Prix stopped, and several people absconded. Agents apprehended one subject after a short foot-chase. A search of the Grand Prix and Nissan Sentra revealed a total of seven military-style duffel bags. The duffel bags contained 362 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $290,080. The driver of the Nissan Sentra was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for prosecution, along with both vehicles and the marijuana. The single subject from the Pontiac Grande Prix was taken into custody by Border Patrol agents and processed for illegal entry.
On May 30, Eagle Pass South Station agents observed several subjects loading bundles into a Ford Focus. When agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop, the driver failed to yield. Agents were able to arrest the driver after a short pursuit. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a total of 10 sugar sack bundles. The bundles contained 401 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $320,880.
On June 2, agents assigned to the Carrizo Springs Station followed foot-sign on a local ranch and discovered a single abandoned military-style duffel bag. The duffel bag contained 42 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $34,240.
On June 3, Uvalde Station agents, conducting train check operations, observed what appeared to be several bundles of illegal narcotics in one of the box cars. A subsequent search of the car revealed a total of 18 bundles. The bundles contained a total of 25 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $20,240.
On June 5, agents assigned to the Eagle Pass South Station conducted a vehicle stop on a Toyota Sequoia. While agents conducted an immigration inspection on the driver, they observed a military-style duffel bag in the back of the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a total of three military-style duffel bags. The duffel bags contained a total of 227 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $182,080.
Unless otherwise specified, all cases were tuned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. For Fiscal Year 2013, the Del Rio Sector has seized over 27,000 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $21.6 million dollars.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
