C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers Seize Cocaine From Body Carriers

Two Women Arrested

(Tuesday, January 11, 2011)

Pharr, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Pharr International Bridge seized 18 pounds of alleged cocaine from two female body carriers. The estimated combined street value of the cocaine is $572,843.

On Jan. 7, 2011, CBP officers working at the Pharr International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2000 Chevy Impala sedan.

The driver was identified as a female 20-year-old U.S. citizen from Mission, Texas, while the passenger was identified as a 20-year-old Mexican citizen female from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. A CBP officer referred the vehicle and both females to secondary for further inspection. During a secondary inspection, officers seized three packages of alleged cocaine hidden under the driver’s clothing and strapped to her thighs. The alleged cocaine weighed 3.30 kilograms (7.2 lbs.) and was valued at $232,805. Officers also seized four packages of alleged cocaine hidden under the passenger’s clothing and strapped to her thighs. In this seizure, the alleged cocaine weighed 4.82 kilograms (10.6 lbs.) and was valued at $340,037. In addition to the alleged cocaine, CBP officers also seized the Chevy Impala sedan.

Both females were transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) for further investigation.

Hector A. Mancha, CBP Port Director, Hidalgo/Pharr said, “This is our first body carrier cocaine seizure for this year.â€