PHARR, TEXAS--Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Pharr International Bridge arrested a man from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico in connection with a foiled smuggling attempt of cocaine worth approximately $1,871,000.
"We see all kinds of smuggling techniques utilized by drug trafficking organizations in their attempts to introduce contraband into our country and our officers continuously step up to the plate and halt these smugglers from continuing on their illicit journeys," said Efrain Solis Jr., port director, Pharr/Anzalduas
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 31 shortly after noon after CBP officers came in contact with a silver 2000 Toyota Sienna van driven by a 32-year-old male Mexican citizen at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge. After presenting his Mexican passport with U.S. visa, the vehicle was referred to secondary for further inspection. It was during the secondary examination and with the use of a vehicle non-intrusive imaging system that officers discovered packages of suspected narcotics hidden within the vehicle's seats. CBP officers removed and seized 26 packages of alleged cocaine weighing approximately 26.52 kilograms (58.47 lbs.) and seized the vehicle as well.
CBP arrested the male driver and subsequently released him to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for further investigation.