Mexican woman caught with 3 kilograms of cocaine at Hidalgo bridge

Monday, February 27th 2017

Officers arrested a Mexican woman last week, when she attempted to cross the border with 3 kilograms of cocaine strapped to her body, according to the criminal complaint.

Leticia Garcia-De Caballero took a taxi to the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge on Thursday and attempted to enter the United States.

Officers at the bridge sent Garcia to secondary inspection, where a K-9 alerted to her "upper body area," according to the criminal complaint.

"Further physical inspection of the vehicle revealed a total of three (3) packages concealed on Garcia's person," according to the criminal complaint. "The 3 packages field tested positive for properties of cocaine."

The packages weighed about 3.2 kilograms.

Officers contacted Homeland Security Investigations, a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to the criminal complaint:

GARCIA stated she was hired in June 2016, to transport illegal narcotics from the Rio Grande Valley to various areas in the United States. GARCIA stated she usually receives the illegal narcotics in McAllen, Texas and transports them on her body. On this occasion, she stated she received the narcotics in Reynosa, Mexico and was travel (sic) by bus to her destination to deliver the drugs. GARCIA stated she was aware she was transporting illegal narcotics and that she was going to get paid $2500-$3000.

Garcia is charged with illegal importation of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter E. Ormsby ordered Garcia held until a detention hearing on March 1.

Garcia remains in federal custody and her attorney couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

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