Narcotics smugglers use crude devices to disable Border Patrol vehicles

Smugglers use 'caltrops' to puncture vehicle tires

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – Drug smugglers disabled two Border Patrol vehicles during a chase last week in the Rio Grande Valley.

Border Patrol agents on Friday morning received information about a vehicle picking up narcotics, officials said. During the chase, the smugglers deployed “caltrops” to pucture the tires of the vehicles, officials said. "Caltrops" are crude devices made of metal objects or nails linked together.

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Agents located the smuggler's vehicle abandoned near the Rio Grande River, officials said. They found more “caltrops” and bundles of marijuana inside the vehicle. Several people were seen carrying more bundles of pot across the river to Mexico, officials said.

No injuries were reported and no arrests were made.

“Caltrops” can pose a serious risk to the public, officials said. If stepped on, the crude device can cause injury to a person or livestock.


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David Ibañez has been managing editor of KSAT.com since the website's launch in October 2000.

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