Border patrol agents rescue suspected drug smuggler

BROWNSVILLE, TX (KTRK) -- Border patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley managed to save the life of a suspected drug smuggler Wednesday.

It happened at around 1:30pm when agents at the Brownsville station were alerted to a suspicious pickup on the east side of town. While in the area, they were told of a maroon Ford F-250 driving north from the Rio Grande.

Soon after, agents say they found a pickup that matched the description abandoned with several bundles of marijuana in the bed.

They searched the area and found two suspected smugglers, one of whom was struggling to swim in a nearby body of water.

An agent jumped in and pulled him to safety.

The total weight was just shy of 460 pounds with an estimated value of more than $367,000. The suspects were turned over to the DEA and their truck confiscated.