C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers Seize $9.3 Million in Cocaine in One Weekend

(Monday, August 09, 2010)

Hidalgo-Pharr, Texas – U. S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Hidalgo-Pharr and Anzalduas International Bridges seized 293.3 pounds of cocaine in five separate and unrelated drug seizures. The combined estimated street value of the cocaine is $9.3 million.

On Aug. 8, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2010 Dodge Nitro sedan and its male driver, a 54-year-old Mexican citizen from San Nicolas De Los Garza, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The vehicle and driver were referred to secondary for further inspection.

In secondary, officers seized 27 packages containing cocaine that were found hidden within the vehicle. In this seizure, the cocaine weighed 81.2 pounds and the estimated street value is $2.5 million.

Also on Aug. 8, CBP officers working at the Anzalduas International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2008 Chevy pickup truck and its male driver, a 24-year-old U.S. citizen from Pasadena, Texas. After the initial primary examination, the driver and vehicle were referred to secondary for further inspection.

In secondary, officers seized 10 packages continuing cocaine that were found hidden within the vehicle. In this seizure, the cocaine weighed 25.6 pounds and the estimated street value is $819,758.

On Aug. 7, CBP officers working at the Pharr International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2010 Mitsubishi Montero SUV and its driver, a 27-year-old Mexican citizen from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. After a primary examination, a CBP officer referred the vehicle and female driver to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, officers seized 49 packages containing cocaine that were found hidden within the vehicle. In this enforcement action, the cocaine weighed 114.6 pounds and the estimated street value is $3.6 million.

On Aug. 6, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2005 Chevy Malibu sedan and its male driver, a 31-year-old Mexican citizen from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. A CBP officer referred the vehicle and driver to secondary for further inspection.

In secondary, officers seized 12 packages containing cocaine that were found hidden within the vehicle. The cocaine weighed 28.4 pounds and the estimated street value is $911,469.

In the early morning hours, Aug. 6, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2005 Chevy Tornado pickup truck and its male driver, a 21-year-old Mexican citizen from San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The traveler and vehicle were referred to secondary for further inspection.

In secondary, officers seized 16 packages containing cocaine that were found hidden within the pickup truck. The weight of the cocaine was 43.3 pounds and the estimated street value is $1.3 million.

CBP officers seized the five vehicles and transferred the travelers to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigation for further investigation.

Hector A. Mancha, CBP port director in Hidalgo-Pharr said, “These were significant loads in terms of value and weight and all intercepted in one weekend. I commend our frontline officers for intercepting and preventing these five drug loads from entering our country and communities.â€