The relentless nature of drug trafficking confronted the vigilance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers last week, as they seized more than $1.3 million worth of cocaine at border crossings in Texas. In two distinct operations, the officers halted significant amounts of narcotics from entering the country through Hidalgo and Anzalduas International Bridges.
A release by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection detailed the first incident, which occurred last Friday. A black GMC SUV was stopped for a routine inspection at the Anzalduas International Bridge. The vehicle, driven by a lone individual, drew the attention of the officers who employed both non-intrusive inspection equipment and a canine team. An extensive search unearthed 14 packages of what was believed to be cocaine, weighing over 25 pounds. The narcotics, estimated to have a street value of more than $1.3 million, were hidden within the vehicle's structure. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the driver was apprehended and handed over to the Hidalgo Police Department, which began a criminal investigation.
The next day, CBP officers stationed at the Hidalgo International Bridge faced a silver Dodge SUV arriving from Mexico. Similar to the previous case, officers selected the SUV for a detailed check, involving the same high-tech scanning and the assistance of trained narcotics detection dogs. Their search efforts paid off when they located and seized 29 packages of alleged cocaine. The drugs, neatly packed and hidden, totaled approximately 74 pounds, as detailed in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection report.
Upon discovering the narcotics, the officers took possession of the substances and the vehicle. The case was then turned over to Homeland Security Investigations, who initiated a further criminal investigation. Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, representing the entry points in Hidalgo, Pharr, and Anzalduas, highlighted the incidences, stating, "Our CBP officers intercepted back-to-back narcotics just one day apart, illustrating the relentless work being done at our international crossings," as per U.S. Customs and Border Protection report.
