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  4. CBP Field Operations Seizes Substantial Amount of Methamphetamine Worth Over $3 Million at Hidalgo International Bridge

CBP Field Operations Seizes Substantial Amount of Methamphetamine Worth Over $3 Million at Hidalgo International Bridge

Release Date
Mon, 02/03/2020

HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested a 49-year-old man from Houston after discovering $3,260,000 worth of alleged methamphetamine concealed within the SUV he was driving.

“As persistent drug smugglers continue their pursuit of attempting to bring dangerous narcotics across the border, our frontline officers at CBP Field Operations are just as relentless in keeping our communities drug-free,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas.

Plastic containers filled with 163 pounds in liquid methamphetamine seized by CBP officers at Hidalgo Port of Entry
CBP officers discovered 163 pounds of liquid
methamphetamine within the gas tank of an SUV at
Hidalgo Port of Entry.

On Jan. 30, a CBP officer at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge referred a blue 2002 Ford Expedition and the male U.S. citizen driver for further examination. The secondary inspection, which included the utilization of non-intrusive imaging (NII) equipment allowed the officers to discover alleged liquid methamphetamine hidden within the SUV’s gas tank.

The extraction of the narcotics resulted in 163 pounds (73.94 kg), which were placed in four plastic buckets.

CBP OFO seized the methamphetamine, the vehicle and arrested the Houston native in connection with the failed drug smuggling attempt. The case is being investigated by agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

For more information about CBP, please click on the attached link.

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021