Area U.S. Border Patrol reported they have seized hundreds of pounds of narcotics, made thousands of illegal immigrant apprehensions and disrupted multiple stash houses in the Valley.

One Tuesday, agents disrupted six separate narcotic smuggling attempts in the Valley and seized more than 1,200 pounds of marijuana worth $1 million in street value, according to the agency’s website.

At the Falfurrias checkpoint a commercial passenger bus inspection revealed 33 pounds of marijuana in two unclaimed suitcases. The marijuana has an estimated value of $26,000.

That same morning, agents working near Garceno observed several smugglers walking north of the Rio Grande.

According to a release, as agents attempted to arrest them, the smugglers abandoned the marijuana bundles and fled to Mexico.

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Agents searched the area and discovered four bundles weighing 280 pounds worth an estimated $224,000.

ARRESTS

Over the past few days, Border Patrol agents reported arresting three sex offenders and a member of a notorious gang.

Friday, agents from the Falfurrias station arrested a Honduran man near Falfurrias. His records revealed two previous arrests for sex-related crimes dating back to 2007 and 2009 on charges of sex with a minor in California.

On Saturday, Feb. 2, Falfurrias agents working near Encino arrested a group of 16 illegal immigrants on private ranch lands.

Agents reported record checks on a Salvadoran man revealed he is a Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang member with a previous arrest for assault, third-degree.

In the same group, a second man’s records check identified him as a Guatemalan national, and revealed an arrest and conviction in the state of California for lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14 years of age. The presiding judge sentenced the man to six years in prison.

On the same day, later that afternoon, McAllen agents working in Mission, arrested a Salvadoran man after he entered the United States.

During processing, record checks revealed a previous arrest and conviction for statutory sexual seduction in the state of Nevada.

U.S. Border Patrol encourages the public to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.

Border Patrol activity

During the weeks between Jan. 28 and Feb. 5, U.S. Border Patrol seized 3,693 pounds of marijuana, worth $1.8 million in street value

RGV Sector seizers during the government shutdown:

• 17,000 illegal immigrants apprehended

• 15,000 pounds of marijuana

• 900 pounds of cocaine

• 19 stash houses disrupted

Source: U.S. Border Patrol

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© 2019 The Monitor (McAllen, Texas)

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