HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized $382,000 worth of alleged methamphetamine and arrested a Mission, Texas woman in connection with the failed drug smuggling attempt.

“Methamphetamine appears to be the narcotics smuggler’s drug of choice these days and it is up to our CBP frontline officers to thwart those illicit smuggling attempts and keep these dangerous substances from crossing our borders,” said Port Director Efrain Solis Jr., Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

Packaging containing 19 pounds of methamphetamine seized by CBP officers at Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry

The seizure occurred on April 8, at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge after CBP officers encountered a 23-year-old female United States citizen driving a brown 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan arriving from Mexico. After referring the woman and the vehicle for further inspection, and with the use of a canine enforcement team, officers discovered seven packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing approximately 19 pounds concealed within the gas tank.

CBP OFO seized the narcotics, the minivan and arrested the woman who was then released  to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for further investigation.