A 31-year-old Texas woman, identified as Sandy Jennifer Treviño, has been arrested following a discovery of methamphetamine concealed within alcohol containers at the Pharr International Bridge, an incident that kicks up yet another conversation on border security and drug smuggling tactics.
According to FOX San Antonio, Treviño, a resident of Pharr, was taken into custody by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) on Dec. 7, the TABC officials discovered a case of canned cocktails in her vehicle, which contained more than the state's legal limit of distilled spirits for personal import and the retention of these cans for disposal led to an unexpected reveal.
The case unfolded back on Nov. 20 when Treviño made a declaration of possessing alcohol while entering the United States from Mexico, but a deeper investigation unveiled a sinister cache; inside the cans -- originally thought to be tequila-based cocktails -- crystallized liquid indicated the presence of meth after a field test carried out by TABC’s Special Investigations Unit, as confirmed in a statement obtained by FOX 26 Houston.
The impetus for this law enforcement win was credited by TABC Executive Director Thomas W. Graham to the "coordination and attention to detail by multiple TABC divisions and federal law enforcement partners," he added, "We are safer today because of their work. This is another example of how TABC plays a vital role at the border in protecting Texans from dangerous and illegal products," the statement which was provided by FOX San Antonio.
Treviño now faces serious charges as possession of a controlled substance in Penalty Group 1 is held as a first-degree felony in Texas, a conviction which can result in a prison sentence ranging from five to 99 years and include a fine reaching up to $10,000; meanwhile, the case remains under active investigation.
