C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge Seize $3 Million in Mexican Brown Heroin – One Man Arrested

(Monday, September 13, 2010)

Hidalgo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized 38.1 pounds of Mexican brown heroin. The estimated street value of the heroin is $ 3 million.

On September 8, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2008 Dodge Caliber sedan and its driver, a 24-year-old Mexican citizen from San Juan, Texas. After the initial primary examination, a CBP officer referred the male driver and vehicle to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, officers seized 56 packages containing brown heroin that were found hidden within the vehicle. The Dodge sedan was also seized by CBP.

The driver 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, “Our frontline officers continue doing great enforcement work and this drug seizure illustrates CBP’s commitment to secure our nation’s borders and to prevent contraband from entering our country.â€