EDINBURG, Texas –Border Patrol agents continue to seize drugs in the Rio Grande Valley Sector, stopping more than 680 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $545,544.00 from reaching our communities.

This morning, agents assigned to the Rio Grande City station working near Roma, Texas, responded to a report of subjects illegally entering the United States, hiding in the brush. Agents observed numerous subjects run towards the Rio Grande and swim to Mexican side of the river. As they absconded, smugglers left two marijuana bundles behind.

Late Thursday evening, agents assigned to the Fort Brown station spotted four subjects south of Highway 4. When agents approached, the four subjects dropped bundles of marijuana and fled towards Mexico.

Also on Thursday, agents conducting patrol operations near Garceno, Texas, seized several bundles of marijuana and a small boat. Agents observed approximately eight subjects return to Mexico after dropping their contraband. The Rio Grande City riverine unit responded to the area and seized an abandoned boat used in the failed smuggling attempt. While agents were retrieving the vessel, smugglers began to throw rocks at the agents from the Mexican bank of the Rio Grande. Agents defended themselves from the rock attacks by deploying less than lethal projectiles at the assailants. No injuries and no arrest were made.

The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382. “Operation Big Rig” is a campaign to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”

Even with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, human smugglers continue to try these brazen attempts with zero regard for the lives they endanger nor to the health of the citizens of our great nation. The U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grande Valley Sector will continue to safeguard the nation and community against these criminal elements.

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter at @CBPRGV, @USBPChiefRGV and @USBPDepChiefRGV.