The smuggling of drugs into the United States continues at a frenzied pace during the marijuana-harvesting season, but so do arrests.

A federal grand jury indicted five men last week on two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 440.90 pounds of marijuana and its possession.

The multi-agency Brownsville Rapid Interdiction Strike Team initially arrested Francisco Contreras-Cortez, Juan Gabriel Reyes-Espindola, Marcelo Chavez-Cruz, Jorge Alejandro Pena-Flores and Jose Luis Flores-Mondragon on Oct. 31.

The five were in a group of nine men who agents spotted crossing the Rio Grande near Colonia Galaxia. They were carrying eight bundles wrapped in clear cellophane, public records reflect.

Agents saw the group approaching the levee west of Flor De Mayo and then proceed north, just south of Hwy 281.

The men suddenly dropped the bundles and ran. Agents secured the eight bundles containing marijuana and located five of the nine men hiding in the brush behind an abandoned house in the area.

Their arraignments are scheduled for Dec. 3 at 8:45 a.m. before Magistrate Judge John R. Froeschner.