Operation Lone Star in Action: Nearly $7M in Illicit Drugs Seized on Texas Border

The Texas Department of Public Safety has recently seized almost $7 million worth of cocaine from a single stop.

Million-Dollar Drug Bust on Texas Border

On March 6, DPS agents responded to suspected narcotics being smuggled into the country through the Pharr Port of Entry.

A white semi-truck driven by 33-year-old Mario Robledo was sent to secondary inspection after flagging agents as suspicious. After officers gained access to the vehicle, they discovered 150 bundles of alleged cocaine wrapped tightly in plastic hidden in the cargo area.

The total weight of the recovered narcotics was over 500 pounds with an estimated street value of $6.8 million.

The driver, Robledo, was placed into custody and charged with manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance, according to the Texas DPS release. He was then sent to Hidalgo County Jail as the case undergoes further investigation.

The reason DPS was involved rather than it being handled by border patrol agents only is due to a statewide initiative called Operation Lone Star.

What is Operation Lone Star?

Originally launched in 2021 by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Operation Lone Star was created to "protect Texans and Americans from the unprecedented border crisis created by the Biden Administration's reckless open border policies" according to the Office of the Texas Governor website.

The site also states that Gov. Abbott deputized the Texas National Guard, under the direction of the Texas Department of Public Safety, to make criminal illegal immigration arrests.

Their alleged goal is to ultimately put a stop to the flow of deadly drugs, human smuggling and cartel gang members from entering the state and country.