HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo and Pharr International Bridges seized $1,051,000 worth of alleged cocaine in two separate, unrelated incidents and arrested two persons in connection with the failed smuggling attempts.
“Just as drug smuggling organizations continue their pursuit of attempting to bring dangerous narcotics across the border, our frontline officers at CBP Field Operations are just as relentless in keeping our communities drug-free,” said Port Director Efrain Solis Jr., Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
Bundles containing more than 79 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge.
The first seizure occurred at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge on Jan. 31 after CBP officers referred a gold 2006 Honda Accord for a secondary inspection. In the process of inspecting the Accord, officers discovered 40 packages of alleged cocaine weighing approximately 79.37 pounds within the vehicle driven by a 40-year-old male Mexican citizen from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
The second incident occurred on the same date but at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge. CBP officers encountered a 39-year-old male Mexican citizen from San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon, Mexico driving a white 2005 Honda Accord. After referring the vehicle for a secondary examination, officers discovered 24 packages of alleged cocaine weighing approximately 56.93 pounds within the vehicle.
CBP OFO seized all the narcotics which carry an estimate street value of $439,000 and $612,000 respectively and seized both vehicles. Both travelers were arrested and subsequently released to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for further investigation.
CBP’s Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.