Officials: Dump truck found carrying marijuana

BROWNSVILLE - A dump truck spotted around a sand pit in Cameron County was not carrying the expected load. Instead, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents found it carrying 1,160 pounds of marijuana.

Valentin Gutierrez Gonzalez, the diver of the dump truck, finds out today if he'll be allowed bail.

In an unrelated case, Patricia del Rosario Garcia also is slated to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Felix Recio on Monday for a detention hearing.

Gonzalez was ordered to appear before Recio at 9 a.m. and Garcia is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Both defendants, believed to be from Mexico, have been in federal custody since their arrests.

Gonzalez was detained Dec. 19. The court record shows that agents saw a dump truck being loaded along the Rio Grande in Cameron County.

Agents followed the dump truck to a sand pit and saw marijuana bundles in the back of the truck.

Gonzalez said he had picked up five other loads in the same area and was to get paid an unknown amount for transporting the load, authorities said. Gonzalez is charged with knowingly and willfully possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it.

Garcia was arrested Dec. 23 after 160 pounds of marijuana were located in a compartment in the cargo area of a Nissan truck she drove from Mexico to the Gateway International Bridge, authorities added.

Agents said Garcia told them that she believed the truck contained a small amount of cocaine and that she was going to receive $300 for crossing the truck to the U.S.

She is charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to possess.