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  4. CBP Officers at Pharr International Bridge Nab Odessa Couple with $400K in Cocaine

CBP Officers at Pharr International Bridge Nab Odessa Couple with $400K in Cocaine

Release Date
Wed, 10/14/2020

PHARR, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge arrested two legal permanent residents (LPRs) from Odessa, Texas in connection with a failed drug smuggling attempt of alleged cocaine worth $406,300.

“This was another great example of teamwork by our frontline officers at one of our border crossings,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. “CBP strengthens our border security through enforcement actions like this one and in so doing continues to prevent drugs from crossing our borders.”

Packages containing nearly 53 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Pharr International Bridge
Packages containing nearly 53 pounds of cocaine
seized by CBP officers at Pharr International Bridge.

On Oct. 10, 2020, a 37-year-old man and 38-year-old woman, both Cuban nationals, arrived at the Pharr International Bridge in a Ford Explorer Sport Trac and a CBP officer referred them for a thorough secondary examination. Utilizing non-intrusive imaging (NII) equipment as part of the secondary inspection allowed the officers to discover packages of suspected narcotics hidden within the SUV. Officers removed 22 packages of alleged cocaine weighing 52.70 pounds (23.90 kg) from the vehicle.

CBP OFO seized the narcotics, the vehicle and arrested the two persons involved in the failed smuggling attempt. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) took them into custody while they continue with the investigation.

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