HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Anzalduas International Bridge seized $510,680 worth of alleged cocaine and arrested a man from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico in connection with the failed drug smuggling attempt.
Bundles containing 66 pounds of cocaine seized by alert CBP officers at Anzalduas International Bridge
“During this busy time of the year, the Semana Santa week, we encounter a higher amount of travelers at our international bridges and it is up to us at CBP’s Office of Field Operations to decipher the legitimate travelers from those with illicit intentions,” said Port Director Efrain Solis Jr., Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
On April 2, CBP officers working at the Anzalduas-Reynosa International Bridge encountered a 39-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a white 2011 Chevrolet Captiva. After presenting his Mexican border-crossing card, he was referred for a secondary examination and it was there that officers discovered packages of suspected narcotics hidden within the vehicle. CBP OFO removed and seized 25 packages of alleged cocaine weighing approximately 66.23 pounds and seized the Chevy sedan as well.
CBP OFO arrested the male traveler and then released him 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.