Thread: C.B.P. Seize $1.6 Million in Methamphetamine, Cocaine

C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers at Hidalgo and Pharr International Bridges Seize $1.6 Million in Methamphetamine, Cocaine
(Wednesday, April 28, 2010)

Hidalgo and Pharr, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Hidalgo and Pharr International Bridges seized 58.8 pounds of methamphetamine and 25 pounds of cocaine in three separate and unrelated enforcement actions. The estimated street value of the cocaine is $802,827, while the two methamphetamine seizures are valued at $882,280.

On April 24, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2007 Honda Civic sedan. The male driver was identified as a 36-year-old Mexican citizen from Pharr, Texas. After the initial primary examination, the vehicle and driver were referred to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, CBP officers seized 25 methamphetamine packages that were found hidden within the Honda Civic sedan.

On the same date, later in the afternoon, CBP officers working at the Pharr/Reynosa International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2007 Honda Pilot SUV. The male driver was identified as a 39-year-old Mexican citizen from Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. A CBP officer referred the driver and vehicle to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, CBP officers seized 13 cocaine packages that were found hidden within the Honda Pilot SUV.

The next day, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2007 Volkswagen Bora sedan. The female driver was identified as a 41-year-old Mexican citizen from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. CBP officers referred the female driver and vehicle to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, CBP officers seized 12 crystal methamphetamine packages that were found hidden within the VW Bora sedan.

CBP officers seized the narcotics and all three vehicles. The drivers were transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for further investigation.

Hector A. Mancha, CBP port director, Hidalgo, Pharr and Anzalduas said, “I commend our frontline officers for their work in intercepting and seizing these three drug loads.â€

Forwarding this story on to Congress.