Sheriff’s Deputies Take 603 Pounds of Marijuana Off the Highway
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Jul 10, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy Maru De La Paz,
Laredo, Texas (Webb County) – On Friday, July 8th, 2011 at approximately 10 a.m., Webb County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a truck traveling North bound South of Rio Bravo. The driver refused to stop making a turnaround in Rio Bravo, Texas. The driver immediately began traveling South, the pursuit continued into Zapata County by multiple Law Enforcement Agencies. The Zapata County Sheriff’s Office set road spikes while suspect tried to avoid them, he lost control of the vehicle coming to a complete stop at a private property approximately 10 miles from Zapata, Texas. The driver abandoned the vehicle and was later detained by Sheriff’s Deputies. Upon further investigation, Webb County Sheriff’s Office K9 alerted to the odor of narcotics, the narcotics were located in an exterior “L” shape fuel tank in the rear of the truck. Deputies discovered 120 bundles of marijuana concealed inside the tank. The bundles had a total weight of 603 pounds at a total estimated street value of $108,540.
Arrested and charged with evading arrest, a State Jail Felony, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle a Felony 2 and Possession of marijuana, Felony 2, was Manuel Garcia Castaneda, 32 years of age. He was remanded to the Webb County jail in lieu of no bond.
Agencies assisting were Zapata County Sheriff’s Office, Game Warden, Department of Public Safety and US Border Patrol.
