Hidalgo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge seized approximately 33.2 pounds of cocaine Wednesday afternoon. The estimated street value of the cocaine is $1,065,262.
On May 25, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2010 Mazda 6 sedan. The male driver was identified as a 32-year-old U.S. citizen from Houston, Texas. A CBP officer referred the vehicle and driver to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, officers seized 13 packages of alleged cocaine that were found within the vehicle’s rocker panel areas. CBP officers seized the vehicle as well.
The male traveler was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.
“This is the second load of cocaine seized by our frontline officers in less than two days. A similar load was intercepted at the Pharr Bridge just days ago,” said Efrain Solis Jr. CBP Acting Port Director, Hidalgo/Pharr. “Our cadre of frontline officers continues working hard to secure our nation’s borders and to prevent this type of contraband from entering our country.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.