C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge Seize Over Half a Million Mexican White Heroin Found Hidden in Pickup Truck

(Thursday, June 17, 2010)

Hidalgo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized 18.1 pounds of Mexican white heroin with an estimated street value of $581,308.00 yesterday afternoon.

On June 17, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 1999 Ford F-150 pickup truck. The driver was identified as a 45-year-old U.S. citizen from Chicago, Illinois. After the initial primary examination, the vehicle and driver were referred to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, officers seized seven packages of Mexican white heroin that were found hidden within the vehicle. CBP officers seized the heroin and the vehicle.

The northbound traveler was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for further investigation.

Hector A. Mancha, CBP port director said, “I commend our frontline officers for their great enforcement work and for their roles in intercepting and seizing this large amount of heroin.â€