| Agents exchange gunfire across Rio Grande
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Category: Life Agents exchange gunfire across Rio Grande
March 20, 2007 - 8:58PM
(Courtesy of Issolationist Right Winger)
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/onset?id=74966&template=article.html
DONNA — Two Border Patrol agents investigating a marijuana load exchanged gunfire Monday with unseen assailants from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande.
The agents were unharmed and no one was believed injured on the Mexican side, Customs and Border Protection spokesman Oscar Saldana said. Four bundles of marijuana totaling 305 pounds were found on the river bank.
It was the second time this year agents were fired at near that section of the river, which at that point is less than 150 feet wide.
The agents were approaching the river bank at about 7:30 a.m. after spotting an inflatable raft near the U.S. sider, Saldana said.
"They went in to take a closer look. At that time the agents came under fire," Saldana said. "They immediately took cover and responded by firing as well."
He said the agents were on farm land and were able to duck behind piles of debris that had recently been cleared from the fields.
The raft had more marijuana on it and was apparently pulled back to the Mexican side.
On Jan. 17, agents were fired upon at a location about a half mile away. That could indicate the area across the river is controlled by drug smugglers who are frustrated by increased numbers of Border Patrol agents, Saldana said.
The Rio Grande Valley sector has added more than 130 Border Patrol agents since June, he said.
"We anticipate more incidents like this one," he said. "The smugglers feel frustrated. They're starting to take more and more drastic measures."
Monday's incident was under investigation. 3:18 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove |
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