International Bridge Scores Big with Nearly $1.5 Million in Hard Narcotics Interceptions
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
HIDALGO (News Release) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge were busy this past weekend with the interception of three seizures of hard narcotics worth $1,469,500 and a seizure of undeclared U.S. currency in the amount of $90,000.
“These interceptions of hard narcotics, although compact in size, illustrate both the pervasiveness of the drug threat and the resolve of our officers to keep our country safe by seizing these loads,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. “Our robust enforcement posture in the outbound arena was instrumental in the discovery of the unreported U.S. currency.”
On April 24, 2021, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge referred a Chevy Trailblazer driven by 38-year-old man, a United States citizen from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico for further inspection which resulted in the discovery of packages of suspected narcotics hidden within the vehicle’s gas tank. Officers removed 24 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing 27.60 pounds (12.52 kg) and nine packages of alleged marijuana weighing 9.9 pounds (4.5 kg). These drugs are valued at $554,000.
Later, at the same border crossing, CBP officers referred a 56-year-old woman from Paris, Texas and the Honda Accord sedan she was driving for a secondary examination. Officers conducting the inspection discovered that the vehicle’s gas tank contained alleged liquid methamphetamine and ultimately, 27.42 pounds (12.44 kg) which are valued at $548,500 were removed from the tank.
Also, CBP officers working outbound operations encountered a 27-year-old man, a United States citizen from Reynosa, Mexico driving a Ford Fusion attempting to drive into Mexico and conducted a secondary examination which resulted in the discovery of $90,000 unreported U.S. currency hidden within the vehicle.
Lastly, days earlier, CBP officers encountered a 36-year-old man from Houston driving a 2008 Volkswagen Touareg and referred him for further examination. Officers discovered 15 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing 17.8 pounds (8.08 kg) and one package of alleged heroin weighing 123 grams which have a combined value of $367,000.
In all the narcotics seizures, (canine teams) assisted in the secondary inspections which allowed the officers to discover the narcotics hidden within the vehicles.
CBP OFO seized the narcotics, currency, all the vehicles and arrested the persons involved who were turned over to the custody of agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) while they continue the investigations.