Pharr, Texas- Officers with Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations at the Pharr International Bridge seized $1,433,000 worth of brown heroin and arrested a man from Edinburg, Texas on this weekend.
On Saturday afternoon a 40-year-old male United States citizen from Edinburg arrived at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge driving a 2003 white Mazda 6. A CBP officer referred the vehicle for an intense inspection after noticing discrepancies with a clothing hamper inside the trunk of the vehicle. Further inspection of the clothing hamper revealed 16 packages weighing approximately 14.33 pounds of brown heroin. CBP seized the narcotics and the vehicle.
The adult male traveler was arrested and released to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
"Our officers' keen sense of awareness and outstanding attention to detail enabled us to detect these narcotics and put a "hamper" on this failed smuggling attempt," said Efrain Solis Jr., Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port Director. "This small but significant interception of drugs has helped keep our citizens safe."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.