see also: in May 2004:   CBP Border Patrol Nabs 3 Men and 3,000 lbs Of Dope   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Seize Over 10 Tons of Marijuana In a Three-Day Period Along Southwest Border   CBP Officers Seize Almost 6,000 Pounds of Marijuana at Otay Mesa Cargo East Facility   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Modifies Procedures Regarding Entry Requirements of Foreign Journalists   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces that Port of Tokyo Becomes 19th Container Security Initiative (CSI) Port to go Operational   First Class of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists Begins Training ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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The Rio Grande Valley - During the course of the night, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents seized 10,163 pounds of marijuana, two large cargo vans, four pick-up trucks, a flat bed farm truck, two semi-automatic pistols and 260 rounds of ammunition. The seizures were made in two separate incidents throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

CBP Border Patrol officers seized 10,163 pounds of marijuana. Photo Credit: Eddie Flores

Alamo, Texas - At approximately 9:30 P.M, CBP Border Patrol agents from the Mercedes Border Patrol Station seized over 1,500 pounds of marijuana. CBP Border Patrol agents were on routine foot patrol along the Rio Grande River when the discovery was made. As the agents walked along a trail, they came upon a Chevrolet Suburban hidden in the brush. After agents conducted surveillance on the vehicle for a short while, they observed approximately nine subjects heading away from the Rio Grande River and to the Suburban. The agents also observed that the subjects were carrying large bundles. As agents confronted the subjects, the smugglers dropped their bundles and fled to Mexico. A search of the area resulted in the discovery of 161 bundles of marijuana weighing 1,578 pounds, two 40-caliber pistols and 260 rounds of ammunition. The marijuana has an estimated value of $1,262,400.

Chapeno, Texas - CBP Border Patrol agents working out of the Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station made their largest marijuana seizure for the fiscal year last night.

At approximately 10:30 P.M., agents were conducting routine river patrol duties afoot near the small community of Chapeno, Texas, a border hamlet located approximately twenty-five miles west of Roma, Texas. As the agents checked frequently used trails, they observed several vehicles drive down to the Rio Grande River. While they waited for the vehicles to start traveling away from the river area, agents called in back-up units. Two of the suspect vehicles proceeded north and were immediately stopped. The drivers of both vehicles exited and fled the scene. At the same instance, additional agents converged on the other vehicles still stationary near the river. As the agents approached, they were able to observe numerous subjects fleeing into Mexico, carrying what appeared to be large amounts of marijuana with them. The agents transported the narcotics and six vehicles to the Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station for processing. At the station, an inventory revealed that this incident resulted in the seizure of 490 bundles of marijuana, weighing 8,584 pounds, with an estimated value of $6,867,200. The six vehicles have a total estimated value of $59,275.

No arrests were made in either case and both cases were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration in McAllen, Texas for further investigation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security, charged with the protection of our nations borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration, and Agriculture Inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.