C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge Seize 23.5 Pounds of Cocaine

(Wednesday, November 17, 2010)

Hidalgo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized 23.5 pounds of cocaine yesterday morning. The estimated street value of the cocaine is $754,855.

On Nov. 11, 2010, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2007 Ford F-150 pickup truck and its driver, an 18-year-old female U.S. citizen female from Lawrenceville, Ga. After the initial primary inspection, the vehicle and driver were referred to secondary for further inspection, at which time CBP officers seized 10 packages allegedly containing cocaine found within the F-150 pickup truck. The vehicle was seized by CBP.

The female traveler was 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, “I commend our frontline officers for their vigilance and for their roles in intercepting and seizing this significant amount of cocaine.â€