Border security agents at Hidalgo International Bridge had a significant bust this weekend as they seized nearly a million dollars' worth of cocaine. The bust comprised of approximately 74 pounds of the narcotic, valued at $989,000, was hidden inside a 2002 Ford Ranger, according to a statement by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
During a routine stop on May 16, a 21-year-old male U.S. citizen found himself at the center of a federal investigation. This young driver, whose seeming innocence was contradicted by the discovery of 28 packages of alleged cocaine stashed within his vehicle, was crossing from Mexico into the United States when selected for a secondary inspection. The find did not come easily; it was the result of both nonintrusive inspection systems and the keen senses of a canine team. The narcotics, with an estimated street value just shy of a million dollars, were found and seized by the agents. The vehicle was also confiscated as part of standard protocol in such encounters.
"Our frontline CBP officers continue to build on the steady enforcement activity from the previous week and intercepted yet another significant load of cocaine in a passenger vehicle," said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez in a glimpse of the ongoing efforts to mitigate the flow of illegal substances across the border, as reported by the CBP.
The driver was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations, and a criminal investigation is now underway. For updates, follow CBP or stay tuned for the latest on this developing case.
