River Bend Golf Course in Brownsville (Photo: Steven Masso)
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Border Patrol says a man is facing federal charges after transporting more than 120 pounds of marijuana near a Brownsville resort and golf course.
Noe Valdez is facing a charge of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, federal records show.
At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Border Patrol agents were advised of traffic across from the dog park at the River Bend Resort in Brownsville.
“This area is notoriously used by smugglers for drug and human trafficking,” a criminal complaint stated.
One agent monitored the entrance and exit points to the resort, and another walked to the clubhouse and began conducting surveillance of the area. The agent then saw a small boat on the north bank of the Rio Grande, with several people on the riverbank, according to the document.
Another agent advised via radio that several witnesses saw suspects load what appeared to be bundles of drugs into a silver sport vehicle on Rio Bravo Road. The agent then saw a gray Jeep Cherokee exiting River Bend at a high rate of speed, travelling west on Highway 281 before turning north on New Carmen Avenue, the complaint stated.
Agents says the Jeep continued east on FM 1732 at a high rate of speed towards Olmito, before turning north on Parker Street and ultimately Fresno Street. The Border Patrol was able to catch up to the vehicle, which came to a stop.
According to the complaint, both the driver and passenger fled on foot, before being arrested. The driver was identified as Valdez. The passenger’s identity was not made public.
Agents searched the vehicle and found three bundles wrapped in cellophane, near the rear of the vehicle. The bundles, which tested positive for marjiuana, weighed a total of 123.6 pounds, the complaint stated.
Valdez was interviewed, where he admitted he was going to be paid for “picking up something near the Rio Grande,” the document added.
Valdez made his initial appearance in court on Wednesday, and has a detention hearing is scheduled for March 25.
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