HIDALGO, Texas—Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge intercepted $432,480 worth of cocaine in a commercial bus coming from Mexico this weekend.
“Excellent teamwork from our frontline officers contributed to this excellent seizure of hard narcotics,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. “The ability to detect inconsistencies and anomalies with travelers and vehicles is how every smuggling interception is initiated and ultimately how drugs are kept from being introduced into our communities.”
The incident occurred on May 20, at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge after officers inspected a commercial passenger bus arriving from Mexico. While examining the bus and with the assistance of a CBP officer and his assigned (canine), officers discovered 21 packages of alleged cocaine weighing 56 pounds hidden within the bus which were seized along with the bus.
CBP OFO arrested a 35-year-old male Mexican national in connection with the failed drug smuggling attempt and ultimately released him to the custody of a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent for further investigation.