Surveillance Drone Spots Cartel Mules Carrying 45 Pounds of Meth Near Van Horn

VAN HORN – U.S. Border Patrol agents along with assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety seized 15 packages of meth last week near Van Horn worth almost $1.5 million.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a drone unit that is stationed at Mathis Field and operates out of the San Angelo Regional Airport.  

On May 23, 2022, agents operating Mobile Surveillance Technology located two subjects walking east towards Texas State Highway 90. Border Patrol agents along with Texas DPS responded to the alert.

As agents and officers were guided to the last known location where the subjects were hiding, the subjects began running west into the mountains.  During the ensuing pursuit, agents located a brown backpack loaded with 15 football-sized packages later identified as methamphetamine.

The subjects were not located, and the narcotics, weighing approximately 45 pounds, were transported to the station where it was valued at $1.46 million

“The quick actions and teamwork of both Border Patrol agents and The Texas Department of Public Safety is something I am proud of,” Big Bend Sector Chief Patrol Agent Sean L. McGoffin stated. “By working together these drugs were stopped from being distributed into our communities. Great job by all!”