Border Patrol nabs more than 1 ton of marijuana

January 23, 2008 - 11:49 PM

U.S. Border Patrol agents netted more than 1 ton of marijuana in a pair of drug seizures.

Agents made the first seizure Monday near Anzalduas County Park south of Mission, when a patrol happened across a suspicious vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle parked it and ran away when he saw the agents, Border Patrol officials said in a statement. The person escaped, but in his vehicle agents found 15 bundles of marijuana weighing a total of 1,086 pounds. Authorities estimate the street value at $868,000.

Agents made another seizure Sunday in the tiny Starr County town of Escobares. A patrol noticed suspicious activity near the Rio Grande, where they saw several people loading bundles into a gray Ford F-250.

The driver of the Ford headed north, and agents tried to pull the truck over. Agents said they saw several people run from the truck and swim back to Mexico. They searched the truck and found 40 bundles of marijuana weighing a total of 1,221 pounds. Agency officials estimate the street value to be $976,800.

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Monitor staff writer Zack Quaintance compiled this report.