U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the South Texas ports of Pharr, Hidalgo, and Anzalduas intercepted a total of $1,200,800 worth of cocaine in three separate incidents. The seizures were part of routine enforcement operations related to narcotics trafficking at international ports of entry.
According to a press release from the CBP, the first apprehension occurred last Friday at the Pharr International Bridge. Here a silver Chevrolet sedan was examined, leading to the discovery of 10 packages of suspected cocaine. The contraband weighed 24.16 pounds and was deftly concealed within the vehicle. The interdiction techniques included both nonintrusive inspection equipment and a canine team, the same effective combination used in the subsequent seizures at other crossings.
Mere hours later, last Saturday, officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge referred another vehicle, a silver Ford sedan, for a comprehensive search. After scrutinising the vehicle, officers retrieved nine packages of alleged cocaine weighing 20.15 pounds. A grey Chevrolet sedan was stopped later that day at the Anzalduas International Bridge, resulting in the recovery of 20 packages of cocaine, totalling 48.54 pounds hidden within the car's secret compartments.
"CBP officers at all our international crossings remain vigilant and are excellent with our tools and techniques at finding and extracting narcotics," Port Director Carlos Rodriguez expressed with firm conviction, in a statement obatained by the CBP. The seized narcotics and vehicles were confiscated by CBP OFO, while Homeland Security Investigations special agents took the drivers into custody and started criminal investigations.
