Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Fort Brown station interdicted a narcotic smuggling attempt and rescued one of the smugglers.

Yesterday evening, Fort Brown agents observed a pick-up truck that was loaded with bundles of marijuana departing the Rio Grande. Agents, along with the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office, attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver of the pick-up drove back to the river area and three subjects bailed out of the vehicle and jumped into the river.

Agents observed one of the three subjects struggling to stay afloat as he attempted to swim back to Mexico. An agent went into the river and rescued the subject from drowning. Agents seized over 215 pounds of marijuana worth nearly $173,000.00.

The Cameron County Sheriff’s Office took custody of the subject, narcotics, and vehicle.

The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and to help save lives by reporting suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.