C.B.P. News Release

Customs and Border Protection Officers Make $1M Cocaine Seizure In Southern Texas

Monterrey Man And Three Imposters Also Arrested

(Friday, April 06, 2012)

Mission, Texas— U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Anzalduas/Reynosa International Bridge seized approximately 31 pounds worth of cocaine on Thursday. The estimated street value of the cocaine is just over $1,000,000.

On April 5, a gray 2004 Nissan Maxima driven by a 30-year-old male Mexican national from Monterrey, N.L., Mexico arrived at the Anzalduas International Bridge. The driver presented his border crossing card to the CBP officer and was referred to secondary for further inspection. In secondary officers discovered and seized 13 packages weighing approximately 14.22 kilograms (31.35) pounds of alleged cocaine that were hidden within a compartment in the bumper area of the vehicle. CBP seized the vehicle as well.

In another unrelated incident at the same border crossing, CBP officers encountered a 29-year-old male Mexican national attempting to enter the United States by allegedly presenting a U.S. birth certificate and driver’s license issued from the state of Tennessee. The male traveler was referred to secondary for further document review and it was there that officers discovered that the birth certificate was not legitimate, and that the traveler was in fact a Mexican national without documents to enter or reside in the United States.

On the same date in two separate unrelated incidents CBP officers at the Hidalgo Port of Entry detected and arrested two female Mexican nationals attempting to enter the United States through the pedestrian lane utilizing documents belonging to other people. CBP officers arrested a 22-year-old female Mexican national from Chiapas, Mexico and a 31-year-old female Mexican national from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico who allegedly attempted to enter the U.S. by presenting legitimate Mexican passports and U.S. visas that did not belong to them.

The male traveler was released to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) for further investigation. The three alleged imposters were incarcerated pending appearance before a U.S. Federal Magistrate on criminal charges for violations of U.S. immigration law.

“Our officers’ continued vigilance, resilience and outstanding dedication to detect those attempting illicit activities has enabled them to keep these hard narcotics out of our community. People need to be aware that impersonating someone using entry documents that belong to someone else is a federal offense and they will be arrested," said Port Director Efrain Solis Jr.

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.

Department of Homeland Security

Customs and Border Protection Officers Make $1M Cocaine Seizure In Southern Texas - CBP.gov