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  4. CBP Officers Seize Cocaine and Marijuana at the Hidalgo, Pharr and Anzalduas International Bridges

CBP Officers Seize Cocaine and Marijuana at the Hidalgo, Pharr and Anzalduas International Bridges

Release Date
Mon, 10/04/2010

Hidalgo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Hidalgo, Pharr and Anzalduas International Bridges seized more than 75 pounds of cocaine and 225 pounds of marijuana last weekend in three separate and unrelated drug seizures. The combined estimated street value of the three drug loads is $2.6 million.

On Oct. 1, CBP officers working at the Pharr International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2007 Honda Civic and its driver, a 38-year-old female, Mexican citizen from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. After the initial primary inspection, a CBP officer referred the driver and vehicle to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, officers seized 30 packages containing cocaine which were found hidden within the vehicle. The cocaine weighed 75.3 pounds and was valued at $2.4 million. The vehicle was also seized by CBP.

Also on Oct. 1, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 1996 Ford Ranger pickup truck. The driver was identified as a 50-year-old, U.S. citizen female from Joliet, Ill. A CBP officer referred the driver and vehicle to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, officers seized 41 packages containing marijuana that were found hidden within the Ford Ranger pickup truck. This drug load weighed 127.9 pounds and the estimated street value is $102,328. The pickup truck was seized by CBP.

On Oct. 3, CBP officers working at the Anzalduas International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 1993 Ford Econoline van and its male driver, a 29-year-old Mexican citizen from General Escobedo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. After a primary examination, a CBP officer referred the vehicle and driver to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, officers seized 36 packages containing marijuana that were found hidden within the Econoline van. In this third weekend drug load, the marijuana weighed 97 pounds and the estimated street value of the drug is $77,672. The Econoline van was seized by CBP.

All three travelers were transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) for further investigation.

"Our frontline officers remain focused and vigilant," said Hector A. Mancha, CBP Port Director, Hidalgo-Pharr and Anzalduas. "They continue working hard to secure our nation's borders and I commend them for their great enforcement work and for their roles in seizing these three drug loads."

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