Border Patrol seizes nearly 2 tons of marijuana, rescues 20 people over weekend

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas – United States Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector seized over $3.1 million worth of marijuana and rescued 20 people in a number of incidents over the weekend, a press release said.

According to the press release, the rescue happened Friday when a United States citizen approached the Falfurrias checkpoint in a tractor-trailer. During a routine inspection a K-9 raised suspicions to the trailer. When they carried out a closer inspection, agents rescued 20 illegal aliens who were locked in the trailer with no means of escape. The driver was arrested at the scene.

The largest marijuana seizure happened the same day when agents assigned to the Harlingen station, with assistance from an Office of Air and Marine helicopter, seized over 1,100 pounds of marijuana. Several suspected smugglers were also arrested, the press release said.

According to the press release several additional seizures of marijuana brought the total amount confiscated over the weekend to almost 4,000 pounds.