Border Patrol Takes Fire From Across Border

KRGV TV | May 13 2005

SOUTH OF ALAMO - Border Patrol officers take fire from across the Rio Grande at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.

SOUTH OF ALAMO – Border Patrol agents come under automatic weapons fire from across the Rio Grande after finding a truck being loaded with drugs at the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge south of Alamo.

No agents were injured in the exchange. All Border Patrol agents in the area, as well as all local law enforcement agencies responded to the scene. It is unknown if agents were able to wound their attackers across the border.

The attack came about 7 pm, as three Border Patrol units were patrolling when they noticed a truck being loaded with narcotics. When they moved in, that is when they started taking fire.

“As the agents moved into get a closer inspection of the area they encountered a narcotics load brought across,” said spokesman J.R. Villareal. “Shortly afterwards (the smugglers) noticed the agent, and started taking shots from the Mexican side with automatic weapons.”

The attack occurred at the same spot where agents last Friday caught smugglers with 600 pound of marijuana.

The truck loaded with drugs managed to get away. It is an older model brown Ford Truck with a tarp covering the bed. Anyone with information is asked to call the Rio Grande Valley Sector office at 618-8163.