Border Patrol Agents Find Over $200K of Meth in the Rio Grande River

EAGLE PASS, TX – Border Patrol agents recently found a backpack containing 6.9 pounds of methamphetamine on the banks of the Rio Grande River near here.

“Drug smuggling organizations will use numerous tactics to try and bring dangerous contraband into the United States,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Felix Chavez. “In this instance, it appears they attempted to swim drugs across the river, in a populated area, and potentially blend in with local citizens. Thanks to the diligence of our agents and the varied types of patrols the Del Rio Sector employs, this harmful narcotic never found its way to American streets.”

On June 16, agents assigned to the Eagle Pass Station Boat Unit were patrolling on the Rio Grande River when they spotted a discarded, gray backpack near the mouth of a creek on the United States side of the border. The location is near the downtown area of Eagle Pass and is an area known for narcotics and alien smuggling. Inside the backpack, agents discovered several packages of suspected narcotics, wrapped in cellophane tape.  

Customs and Protection officers from the Eagle Pass Port of Entry assisted agents and identified the substance as methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $222,240.  The drugs were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the Joint Task Force-West South Texas Corridor, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. To report suspicious activity call the Del Rio Sector’s toll free number at 1-866-511-8727.