U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge confiscated $3,410,500 worth of alleged cocaine and methamphetamine in two separate, unrelated incidents this past weekend and arrested two persons in the process.
“These are great interceptions of hard narcotics that our officers accomplished due to outstanding teamwork, resiliency and commitment towards our mission of keeping dangerous drugs from crossing our border and entering into our communities,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
The first seizure occurred on Oct. 30, 2020 at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge after a CBP officer referred a 23-year-old man, a legal permanent resident (LPR) from Edinburg, Texas and a Toyota Sequoia for further inspection. A thorough secondary examination resulted in officers locating 24 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing 167.77 pounds (76.10 kg) concealed within the SUV’s tires. The street value of these drugs is $3,355,500.
The second incident occurred the following day at the same border crossing. A 62-year-old female U.S. citizen and resident of Rio Grande City, Texas arrived in a Hyundai Elantra from Reynosa and a CBP officer referred her for a secondary examination. Officers conducting the examination discovered three packages of alleged cocaine weighing 7.14 pounds (3.24 kg) hidden within the vehicle. These narcotics are valued at $55,000.
In both interceptions, CBP officers utilized all available tools and resources including non-intrusive imaging (NII) equipment and (canine teams).
CBP OFO seized all the narcotics, both vehicles and arrested the two persons involved in the failed drug-smuggling attempts. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) took them into custody and they continue with the investigations.
This press release was initially published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
