(December 16, 2008)

FALFURRIAS--Border Patrol Agents here in South Texas said they're seeing a rise in marijuana seizures.They said it's connected to a new crackdown on drug traffickers in Mexico. That smugglers are now trying to get larger amounts into the United States. 

The Laredo and McAllen sectors are usually busy areas to get drugs into the United States. Both areas have Border Patrol Agents who patrol the Coastal Bend trying to stop the flow of marijuana into bigger cities.

It's the latest seizure of marijuana by Border Patrol Agents. It's about 1,100 pounds seized in Duval County in Freer.

Border Patrol Agents said checkpoints in South Texas, like the one at the Falfurrias Checkpoint, have been busier than a year ago.

"We're seeing about a 150 percent increase in the amount of seizures and the total weight is up about a 188 percent," said John Lopez, a Border Patrol Public Affairs Officer. 

This is the time of the year when marijuana is harvested south of the border. So agents are on high alert, checking more cars coming through the checkpoints.

"They putting the marijuana in compartments," Lopez said. "They're putting it in spare tires. They're putting it in tractor trailers. Not only that, but we're seeing pick up trucks with marijuana laying in the back covered with tarp."

They said this year is also busier because Mexico is more aggressive on its war on drugs.

"The government of Mexico cracking down on narco traffickers on the Mexican side," said Lopez. "These traffickers are trying to get what they have stored in stockpiles in storages are trying to get it into the US."

The Falfurrias Checkpoint along with Sarita Checkpoint are in the McAllen Sector of the Border Patrol. The Laredo Sector covers Duval and Jim Hogg County checkpoints. Agents said both sectors rank number two and number three in the nation for drug seizures by the Border Patrol.

"You have the 77 corridor that leads up to Houston," Lopez said. "You got this 281 that leads to San Antonio. These are major corridors that lead through the Valley to the rest of the United States."

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com