HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry recently seized $695,940 worth of alleged cocaine in four separate, unrelated incidents.
“The seizure of these hard narcotics is an example of the determination and resolve that our CBP officers have to keep our country safe. Preventing these dangerous drugs from reaching our streets and inflicting harm on our citizens is part of the CBP border security mission,” said Interim Port Director Donna Sifford, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
cocaine seized by CBP officers at
Pharr International Bridge.
On Sunday Nov. 19, CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge encountered a red 2005 Nissan Platina driven by a 36-year-old male Mexican citizen from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. With the assistance of a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system inspection, CBP officers discovered 10 packages containing 24.56 pounds of alleged cocaine within the vehicle. The alleged narcotics have an estimated street value of $189,380.
On Thursday night Nov. 16, CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge referred a black 2008 Mazda Tribute to secondary for inspection. The vehicle was driven by a 24-year-old male United States citizen from Alamo, Texas. With the use of a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system inspection, CBP officers discovered five packages containing 14.24 pounds of alleged cocaine and one package of marijuana concealed within the vehicle. The alleged narcotics have an estimated street value of $110,120.
On Thursday morning Nov. 16, CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge encountered a grey 2005 Honda Accord driven by a 34-year-old male Mexican citizen from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The vehicle was referred for further inspection and with the assistance of a canine team and a the use of a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system inspection, CBP officers discovered eight packages containing a total of 19.84 pounds of alleged cocaine within the vehicle. The alleged narcotics have an estimated street value of $153,000.
On Wednesday Nov. 15, CBP officers assigned to the Hidalgo International Bridge encountered a grey 2007 Volkswagen Jetta driven by a 30-year-old male Mexican national from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The vehicle was selected for an enforcement inspection, with the use of a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system inspection, officers discovered 13 packages containing a total of 31.57 pounds of alleged cocaine concealed within the vehicle. The alleged narcotics have an estimated street value of $243,440.
CBP OFO seized the narcotics along with the vehicles, arrested the drivers, and turned them over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for further investigation.