Hidalgo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge seized 87.7 pounds of marijuana yesterday afternoon. The estimated street value of the marijuana is $70,194.
On Jan. 20, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 1997 Chevy Astro van and its driver, a 19-year-old Mexican citizen from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. A 40-year-old male passenger, a Mexican citizen also from Reynosa, accompanied the driver.
After the initial primary inspection, a CBP officer referred the vehicle and male travelers to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, officers seized 17 packages of alleged marijuana from the vehicle's gas tank. The van was also seized by CBP.
The men were transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
Hector A. Mancha, CBP port director at Hidalgo/Pharr, said, "For the Hidalgo Bridge, this is the second marijuana load seized by our frontline officers in less than a week. I commend our officers for their work in securing our nation's borders and for preventing this type of contraband from entering our country and communities."