CBP Seizes Twenty Pounds of Cocaine at the Hidalgo International Bridge
HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested a 48-year-old man from San Luis Potosi, Mexico after detecting approximately 20 pounds of alleged cocaine hidden within the SUV he was driving.
Packages containing a total of approximately 20 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Hidalgo International Bridge
"Intercepting illicit narcotics is one of our priorities at CBP Field Operations and whether we detect two tons of marijuana in a commercial vehicle or two pounds of another illegal substance on a person, the same effort is utilized to help keep these dangerous drugs from crossing the border," said Port Director Efrain Solis, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
This seizure occurred on Jan. 17 at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge after CBP officers referred a gold 2006 Mercury Mountaineer SUV driven by a male Mexican citizen for secondary inspection. While inspecting the vehicle with the assistance of a canine team, officers discovered 12 packages of alleged cocaine concealed within the Mountaineer.
CBP OFO seized the vehicle along with the narcotics, valued at approximately $157,000, and arrested the driver, who was released to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for further investigation.