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  4. CBP Field Operations Seizes Nearly 4,000 Pounds of Marijuana Camouflaged Within a Shipment of Key Limes

CBP Field Operations Seizes Nearly 4,000 Pounds of Marijuana Camouflaged Within a Shipment of Key Limes

Release Date
Tue, 02/07/2017

PHARR, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility discovered 3,947 pounds of alleged marijuana within a commercial shipment of key limes.

“This is an outstanding interception of narcotics. Our CBP officers continue to excel in their knowledge of smuggling techniques which allows them to intercept these kinds of attempts to introduce narcotics into our country,” said Port Director Efrain Solis Jr., Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. 

Lime-shaped bundles containing 3,947 pounds of marijuana seized by CBP officers at Pharr Bridge
Lime-shaped bundles containing 3,947
pounds of marijuana seized by CBP
officers at Pharr International Bridge

The seizure occurred on January 30, when CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility encountered a 2001 Freightliner tractor trailer. After the conveyance was referred for a secondary inspection, CBP officers utilized a non-intrusive imagining (NII) system along with the help of a canine team to locate the narcotics. CBP officers extracted 34,764 packages containing a total of 3,947.37 pounds of alleged marijuana commingled within the shipment of key limes.

CBP OFO seized the drugs, valued at approximately $789,467. The case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations special agents.

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.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021