Construction workers busted with 600 pounds of pot

Associated Press / Houston Chronicle
January 9, 2008

McALLEN, Texas — Three construction workers for the company building part of the border fence and an international trade bridge to Mexico remained in a South Texas jail Friday after they were caught with nearly 600 pounds of marijuana.

Alberto Montiel, Ruben Vela and Rolando Flores, all of eastern Hidalgo County, were arrested Wednesday at a Burger King not far from the Rio Grande, said Mission Police Sgt. Jody Tittle.

Police received a tip that a van and an SUV were transporting drugs. A patrol in the area spotted the vehicles driving together and followed them into the Burger King parking lot. Through the windows in both vehicles police saw large bundles containing marijuana. In total, the 12 bundles weighed 596 pounds, Tittle said.

The drivers were wearing reflective vests and when asked, said they worked for Houston-based Williams Brothers Construction Co., Tittle said.

A receptionist at Williams Brothers in Houston said no one was available to comment late Friday.
The men were arrested close to the Anzalduas International Bridge project, which will cross the Rio Grande just west of Granjeno. The $20.2 million segment of border fence that Williams Brothers is building is in eastern Hidalgo County near Progreso.

All three men remained in the Hidalgo County Detention Center on Friday evening, each held in lieu of a $250,000 bond for drug possession. It was unknown whether they had lawyers.

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