Agents Continue to Disrupt Smuggling Operations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
EDINBURG (News Release) - Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents disrupted two human smuggling events resulting in 60 arrests.
La Joya Police Department (LJPD) requested McAllen Border Patrol (MCS) to assist with responding to a report from a concerned citizen regarding a male subject with a long arm guiding people through the brush to a residence in La Joya, Texas. When agents arrived at the location, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) were already on scene assisting La Joya PD. LJPD officers advised they had taken a male subject into custody outside the residence who was in possession of an unloaded shotgun, a female, and another male subject, all United States Citizens (USCs). They also advised they were standing by for a search warrant. Once they received and executed the search warrant, six illegal aliens were encountered inside the residence. La Joya Police took custody of the three principals pending state charges and the undocumented aliens were transported to the McAllen Border Patrol Station to be processed.
Monday morning, agents assigned to the Rio Grande City (RGC) Border Patrol Station responded to a DPS bail out north of El Sauz, Texas, on FM 649. The DPS trooper attempted to stop a Ford F350 pulling a horse trailer after observing suspicious activity. After a thorough search of the area, 52 subjects were arrested, including the driver. The agents and officers received additional information regarding the residence where the group was held and apprehended 33 more illegal aliens. A total of 85 subjects were arrested at the bailout and at the residence. DPS took custody of the possible driver and seized the F350 and horse trailer. The illegal aliens were transported to the Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station to be processed.