Federal agents in Texas claim they seized nearly 300 pounds of narcotics and arrested multiple individuals, including a previously convicted felon and several illegal border crossers, during a week of immigration-related enforcement actions across the state.
Here are this week’s biggest takedowns:
1. ICE Nabs Aggravated Assault Felon in Texas
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested a 44-year-old Mexican national on July 31 who had previously been convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and intent to kill, according to a post from social media user @ERODALLAS.
“Criminal aliens like Valentin Meza-Estrada aren’t slipping through the cracks anymore. ICE officers are going after them,” the account posted.
A separate post from Lubbock County Mugshots on Facebook listed an arrest by local authorities, just a few days earlier:
MEZA-ESTRADA, VALENTIN
07/31/2025
Age: 44
Charges: Immigration Customs Enforcement Detainer
Arresting Agency: ICE.
The agency did not publicly announce further details about Meza-Estrada’s case, including whether he would face new charges or immediate removal proceedings.
2. Cocaine Found in Soft Drink Shipment, Mobile Home Raid in Mission
On August 1, Donald R. Kusser, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Laredo office, announced a seizure at the Roma Port of Entry after agents referred a tractor-trailer hauling soft drinks for inspection.
“@CBP officers at Roma, TX referred a tractor trailer hauling a shipment of soft drinks for an enforcement inspection. A canine inspection resulted in an alert, and a physical examination resulted in the discovery of 73 packages containing 212.30 pounds of cocaine. #OFOProud,” Kusser posted at 7:46 a.m. on X.
Several days later, Chief Michael W. Banks of the U.S. Border Patrol posted about another drug seizure in the Rio Grande Valley.
“$1.5M WORTH OF COCAINE, SMUGGLERS, & ILLEGAL ALIENS FOUND IN A MOBILE HOME! 7/30- USBP and Texas DPS disrupted a stash house and drug distribution hub operating out of a mobile home in Mission, TX,” Banks wrote.
The post alleged that two individuals present were smugglers in the country illegally, and three others, citizens of Nepal, El Salvador, and Guatemala, were waiting to be moved further into the U.S.
Banks said the “primary smuggler will face charges for felony illegal re-entry,” and the remaining individuals would be processed for removal. Authorities allegedly recovered 48 pounds of cocaine stored in wooden boxes.
3. Marijuana Interdiction Near Brownsville
Agents in the Rio Grande Valley and officers with the U.S. Coast Guard say they intercepted nearly 100 pounds of marijuana in a joint operation near Brownsville, Texas.
The post praised the operation, calling it “great teamwork,” and included the phrase “Honor First,” a motto used frequently by the Border Patrol. No further details on arrests or criminal charges were included.
The post was made from @USBPChiefRGV, an account that previously belonged to Gloria Chavez and now appears to be under the administration of Jason E. Schneider, (Acting) Chief Patrol Agent.
Texas Takedown Weekly is a recurring series from The Dallas Express chronicling the most significant immigration-related arrests and interdictions across the state. Read last week’s edition here: Texas Takedown Weekly: Cocaine Coldplay Jokes And Sex Offender Arrests (August 1).
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