The marijuana came in large bales.
In total, the U.S. Coast Guard hauled in a major catch—three black bundles of pot weighing 140 pounds, seized early Thursday off South Padre Island, according to a press release.
The drugs had been wrapped in black material and rope to keep them dry.
A crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Station South Padre Island, stationed near Isla Blanca Park, spotted three people crossing the Brownsville Ship Channel after receiving a notification about suspicious behavior at 3:35 a.m.
The crew launched a 33-foot patrol craft to investigate.
Once on scene, the crew detained the three suspects and seized three bales of marijuana found in their possession.
The Coast Guard crew transferred the individuals and marijuana to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol personnel in Port Isabel.
“It is only through close coordination with our interagency partners that our crews are able to detect and respond swiftly to illegal activities along the border,” Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Dan Ippolito, commanding officer, Station South Padre Island, said in the press release. “The Coast Guard remains fiercely committed to stopping individuals from illegally smuggling drugs into U.S. territory, safeguarding our borders and protecting our citizens.”
