Hidalgo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized 9.4 pounds of cocaine and 17.3 pounds of methamphetamines early yesterday morning. The combined estimated street value of the seized drugs is $564,596.
On Dec.7, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2002 Ford Explorer and its driver, a 43-year-old U.S. citizen from San Juan, Texas. A passenger in the Ford Explorer was identified as a 43-year-old Mexican citizen from McAllen, Texas. A CBP officer referred the driver, passenger and vehicle to secondary for further inspection.
In secondary, officers seized five packages of alleged methamphetamine and two packages of alleged cocaine strapped to the driver's body under her clothing. In this seizure, the methamphetamine weighed 8.3 pounds and was valued at $125,000, while the cocaine weighed 4.7 pounds and was valued at $152,381.
CBP officers also seized four alleged methamphetamine packages and two packages of alleged cocaine strapped to the passenger's body, also under her clothing. In this discovery, the methamphetamine weighed 9 pounds and was valued at $136,244, while the cocaine weighed 4.7 pounds and was valued at $150,971.
CBP officers seized the Ford Explorer and transferred both females to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) for further investigation.
Hector A. Mancha, CBP port director, Hidalgo/Pharr said, "This is great enforcement work by our frontline officers and I commend them for their vigilance and attention to detail." Mancha further said, "We continue working hard to prevent this type of contraband from entering our country and we continue our work in securing our nation's borders."