HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested two Mexican citizens in connection with two separate failed drug smuggling attempts of cocaine worth $687,000.
“Due to our officers’ diligence and commitment to our mission, these drugs will no longer make it into our communities,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/ Pharr/Anzalduas.
cocaine seized by CBP officers at Hidalgo
International Bridge.
On Sep. 20, a 36-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a blue Ford Lobo pickup truck arrived at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge and a CBP officer referred him for further inspection. The secondary inspection resulted in officers discovering 30 packages of alleged cocaine weighing 72.66 pounds (32.96 kg) hidden within the pickup. These drugs have a street value of $560,000.
The following day, at the same border crossing, a CBP officer referred a 31-year-old woman from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico and the silver 2013 Volkswagen Jetta for a secondary inspection. Officers inspecting the vehicle discovered six packages of alleged cocaine that weighed 16.49 pounds (7.48 kg) concealed within the car. These narcotics are valued at $127,000.
In both cases, officers utilized a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system as part of the inspection.
CBP OFO seized all the narcotics, both vehicles and arrested the two travelers involved in the failed drug smuggling attempts. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents continue with these investigations.