Tagged News

• Trump says the US has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela

  December 10, 2025 6:04 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as tensions mount with the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Using U.S. forces to take control of a merchant ship is incredibly unusual and marks the Trump... more »

• Lawmakers voice support for congressional reviews of Trump's military strikes on boats

  November 30, 2025 2:00 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers from both parties said Sunday they support congressional reviews of U.S. military strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, citing a published report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for all crew members to be... more »

• What a reporter found when she investigated US military strikes on Venezuelan drug boats

  November 7, 2025 3:59 PM

  GÜIRIA, Venezuela (AP) — One was a fisherman struggling to eke out a living on $100 a month. Another was a career criminal. A third was a former military cadet. And a fourth was a down-on-his-luck bus driver. The men had little in common beyond their Venezuelan seaside hometowns... more »

• Government set to deploy buoy barrier along Rio Grande near Brownsville Play Video

  October 17, 2025 1:18 PM

  Water barriers are one step closer to making their way to Rio Grande in Cameron County, and it's being funded by the Big Beautiful Bill signed by President Donald Trump. The government is set to deploy buoys in the river near Brownsville, and the Department of Homeland Security says... more »

• Trump confirms the CIA is conducting covert operations inside Venezuela

  October 16, 2025 11:38 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela and said he was weighing carrying out land operations on the country. The acknowledgement of covert action in Venezuela by the U.S. spy agency comes after the U.S. military... more »

• Driver fleeing from Border Patrol agents led to deadly Brownsville crash, DPS says Play Video

  September 24, 2025 1:21 PM

  A 21-year-old Brownsville man died on Tuesday after crashing into a semi-trailer while evading U.S. Border Patrol agents, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Bundles of narcotics were found in the vehicle, and two people are in Border Patrol custody in connection with the crash, DPS said... more »

• Mother of Weslaco murder suspect charged in scheme to smuggle drugs into detention center Play Video

  September 19, 2025 7:40 PM

  The 37-year-old mother of a Weslaco murder suspect is now in custody in connection with a scheme to smuggle drugs into the Hidalgo County Detention Center, according to a news release. Emily Cavazos was booked into the Hidalgo County jail Thursday on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity... more »

• Records: Former Hidalgo County detention center employee worked with Weslaco murder suspect to smuggle drugs Play Video

  September 18, 2025 5:35 PM

  A detention officer was smuggling drugs into the Hidalgo County detention center and delivering them to an inmate charged with murder, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Channel 5 News. Ronaldo Rodriguez was identified by the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office as the former detention center employee accused as... more »

• Trump says the US military again targeted a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela

  September 16, 2025 3:51 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said the U.S. military on Monday again targeted a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing three aboard the vessel, and hinted that the military targeting of cartels could be further expanded. "The Strike occurred while these confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela were in... more »

• Trump's strike on alleged Venezuelan drug boat raises questions about his use of military power

  September 10, 2025 11:11 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) — Within a week of Donald Trump's election, Sen. Lindsey Graham counseled the president-elect to quickly send a message to the drug cartels from the White House. "Blow up something," Graham told Trump. The brazen military strike on a suspected drug-smuggling speedboat carrying 11 people from... more »

• DPS seizes more than $2 million worth of cocaine in Starr County Play Video

  September 9, 2025 3:49 PM

  The Texas Department of Public Safety seized approximately 69 pounds of cocaine during a joint operation with the U.S. Border Patrol in Starr County, according to a news release. The news release said on September 7, the Texas Rangers Special Operations Group and U.S. Border Patrol agents saw four... more »

• Trump says US strike targeting Venezuelan gang will cause cartels to think twice

  September 4, 2025 10:49 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday justified the lethal military strike that his administration said was carried out a day earlier against a Venezuelan gang as a necessary effort by the United States to send an unmistakable message to Latin American cartels. Asked why the military did... more »

• CBP raising awareness on smuggling prescription drugs into the Valley Play Video

  August 8, 2025 12:45 PM

  A lot of Rio Grande Valley families go to Progreso to pick up prescription medications, and federal agents want to give a few reminders on their policies. "There are individuals that actually try to smuggle large quantities of these medications across the border," Director of Field Operations Donald Kusser... more »

• More than $668,000 in cocaine seized at Hidalgo International Bridge

  July 1, 2025 3:38 PM

  U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted more than $668,000 in alleged cocaine concealed within a vehicle at the Hidalgo International Bridge, according to a news release. According to the news release, CBP officers at the bridge encountered a Ford SUV attempting to enter the United States from Mexico... more »

• Undocumented immigrants from Iraq, China apprehended in Starr County Play Video

  June 28, 2025 5:33 PM

  U.S. Border Patrol, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department apprehended four undocumented migrants in Starr County, including two 'Special Interest Aliens' from China and Iraq, according to DPS spokesperson Lt. Chris Olivarez. The arrests and seizure occurred on June 23. A Special Interest Alien... more »

• Mexican fisherman arrested off coast of South Padre Island for illegal fishing Play Video

  May 23, 2025 6:49 PM

  A boat crew from the Coast Guard Station South Padre Island detained four Mexican fishermen engaging in illegal fishing, according to a news release. The news release said the South Padre Island boat crew, with assistance from the Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi, transferred the fisherman to U.S. Customs... more »

• Officers catch McAllen woman with 11 kilos of cocaine Play Video

  February 3, 2020 3:50 PM

  PHARR – U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested a McAllen woman on Saturday, when she attempted to cross the Pharr bridge with 11 kilograms of cocaine, according to the federal criminal complaint against her. Yesmin Corona, 37, of McAllen attempted to cross the bridge from Reynosa to Pharr on... more »

• Brooks Co. Officials See Increase of Smugglers Using Stolen Vehicles Play Video

  October 15, 2019 5:22 PM

  FALFURRIAS – A spike in immigration-related crime popping up just north of the Rio Grande Valley. Brooks County sheriff’s deputies are seeing an increase of stolen vehicles coming from north Texas. Many of the cars and trucks were used by human or drug smugglers. Sheriff Benny Martinez... more »

• Couple Caught Smuggling Over 20,000 Tramadol Pills at Brownsville Bridge Play Video

  September 4, 2019 6:11 PM

  BROWNSVILLE – A couple caught smuggling a dangerous drug through the border are facing federal charges. Maria Esperanza Garcia and Hector Fuentes-Gutierrez were arrested after entering the country with undeclared prescription medicine. The amount they were carrying exceeded personal use. It happened August 18 as they re-entered... more »

• Former Valley Police Officer Sentenced to 14 Years for Assisting Drug Traffickers Play Video

  August 12, 2019 12:53 PM

  RIO GRANDE CITY – A former Rio Grande Valley police officer is sentenced to serve 14 years in prison for assisting drug traffickers. Ramon De La Cruz is a former Rio Grande City police officer; witnesses testified he would escort drugs while on duty. The six year investigation... more »

• Edinburg Man Caught Smuggling Liquid Meth at Port of Entry Play Video

  May 31, 2019 12:13 PM

  HIDALGO – An Edinburg man is behind bars for trying to smuggle more than $1.5 million worth of liquid meth into the country. The bust happened Wednesday at the Hidalgo International Bridge. Officers found the packages of the highly addictive drug hidden within a track driven be a... more »

• 7 Arrested, 4 Wanted in Connection to Hidalgo Co. Aggravated Kidnapping Play Video

  May 22, 2019 5:19 PM

  EDINBURG – Seven people arrested and four are on the run; they’re all tied to a kidnapping in Hidalgo County. Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra alleges the case also links to drug smuggling by members of a transnational criminal organization. Three of the suspects involved are minors. ... more »

• ‘Not Guilty’ Plea in Drug Smuggling Case Involving Baby Play Video

  May 10, 2019 5:22 PM

  BROWNSVILLE – A mother and daughter pleaded not guilty in a drug smuggling case involving a baby . The baby was strapped in the car seat of a vehicle where the drugs were allegedly found. The child’s mother and grandmother are accused of trying to smuggle nearly 300... more »

• Reynosa Man Caught with $1 Million Worth of Alleged Meth

  April 15, 2019 6:28 PM

  HIDALGO – A 25-year-old man from Reynosa was arrested at an international bridge in connection with a failed drug smuggling attempt. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized $1 Million worth of methamphetamine Sunday at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge. The man was referred to a secondary inspection when officers... more »

• CBP Arrest 2 in Separate Drug Smuggling Incidents at Port of Entry

  March 22, 2019 10:17 AM

  PHARR – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers made two arrests in separate drug smuggling incidents. CBP seized a total of $340,000 worth of cocaine at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge. On Tuesday, officials encountered a 25-year-old American woman arriving from Mexico. During a secondary inspection, CBP officers... more »

• CBP Arrest Man Attempting to Smuggle Nearly $200K Worth of Cocaine

  March 11, 2019 9:59 AM

  PHARR – Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a man attempting to smuggle nearly $200,000 worth of cocaine. The 30-year-old Reynosa man was stopped at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge last Thursday. Ten packages of the drug were discovered within the man’s vehicle during a secondary inspection. CBP... more »

• Former Valley Police Chief Found Guilty Play Video

  March 7, 2019 3:09 PM

  MCALLEN – A former La Joya police chief has been found guilty. Jurors found former police chief Geovani Hernandez guilty Thursday on two counts for aiding and abetting to distribute over five kilograms of a controlled substance. Hernandez was accused of intentionally scouting and assisting in drug trafficking.... more »

• Border Patrol Seizes More Than $650K Worth of Cocaine at Checkpoints

  February 25, 2019 1:06 PM

  FALFURRIAS – Border Patrol agents seized over $650,000 worth of cocaine at the immigration checkpoints. Agents working at the Falfurrias checkpoint seized four bundles worth about $282,000 on Thursday. The driver and passenger were arrested. Agents working the Sarita checkpoint in Kingsville seized five bundles worth about $378,000... more »

• Law Enforcement Working to End Juvenile Drug Smuggling Play Video

  February 11, 2019 10:25 PM

  WESLACO – The Cameron County District Attorney says the number of prosecutions of juvenile smugglers from Mexico has to increase. District Attorney Luis Saenz says minors from Mexico are being paid by Mexican cartels to smuggle drugs. "Border Patrol was forced to do nothing more than catch them,... more »

• Man Allegedly Smuggles Drugs through Gulf of Mexico to SPI Play Video

  February 1, 2019 5:09 PM

  SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – Border Patrol officials say drug smuggling activity is holding steady in the lower Rio Grande Valley areas. Criminals are utilizing the Gulf of Mexico to get their loads across. One of those loads made it all the way to South Padre Island this week.... more »

• Suspected Drug Smuggler in Custody of Border Patrol following Chase Play Video

  January 28, 2019 7:25 PM

  RIO GRANDE CITY – A man suspected of smuggling drugs was chased down by Border Patrol on Sunday. The chase ended with a crash into an ice machine at a convenience store. After the crash, the driver tried to flee but Border Patrol agents caught him. KRGV’s... more »

• Enticing Social Media Ad Lures Man to Take Drug Smuggling Job Play Video

  December 27, 2018 9:09 AM

  WESLACO – A man accused of moving drugs through a Rio Grande Valley port of entry says it all started online through a Facebook ad looking for drivers. The sum of $5,000 and the possibility of a free vehicle lured Dallas native Nicholas John Zotos into a drug smuggling... more »