Dope Seized and Stolen Vehicle Recovered South of Donna

Donna, Texas — U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Weslaco Station seized close to 850 pounds of marijuana and recovered a stolen vehicle Tuesday.At about midnight, agents on patrol south of Donna on U.S. Military Highway 281 encountered a suspicious Ford Expedition traveling north from the Rio Grande at a high rate of speed. When the driver of the SUV noticed the agents, he made an abrupt u-turn and accelerated back to the river.On Nov 30, Weslaco, Texas Border Patrol Agents seized 848 pounds of Marijuana and a stolen Ford Expedition south of Donna after a smuggler lost control of the vehicle.On Nov 30, Weslaco, Texas Border Patrol Agents seized 848 pounds of Marijuana and a stolen Ford Expedition south of Donna after a smuggler lost control of the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle lost control, struck a stop sign, and landed in a ditch. The driver bailed out and fled.In the past drug smugglers have launched their vehicles into the Rio Grande in an attempt to get the drug load back to Mexico. This may have been the driver’s intent before he ditched his load in the dirt canal. On Nov 30, Weslaco, Texas Border Patrol Agents seized 848 pounds of Marijuana and a stolen Ford Expedition south of Donna after a smuggler lost control of the vehicle.On Nov 30, Weslaco, Texas Border Patrol Agents seized 848 pounds of Marijuana and a stolen Ford Expedition south of Donna after a smuggler lost control of the vehicle. “Frigid temperatures did not dissuade drug smugglers from getting their drugs across the Rio Grande, nor did these temperatures stop our agents from performing their duties,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Armando Mercado Jr. “Our agents are out there diligently performing their duties regardless of climate, terrain, or time of day.The agents seized 79 bundles of marijuana valued at close to $700,000 and the SUV, which was reported stolen out of Houston.To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector’s toll-free telephone number at (800) 863-9382.U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.