HIDALGO, Texas (Border Report) — Over $2.1 million in illegal drugs were seized in two large incidents at South Texas ports recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection says.
Over $618,000 of cocaine was seized Wednesday at the McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge from a car coming from Mexico, CBP says.
The drugs were confiscated after the car was sent for secondary inspection and nonintrusive inspection equipment was used, CBP says.
Inside the small car officers found 21 packages of cocaine weighing over 46 pounds that were concealed within the vehicle during the triple-digit day, the agency says.
“Our frontline CBP officers continue to maintain strict vigilance, even amid the sweltering heat this week, and seized a significant load of cocaine,” Port Director Carlos Rodriguez said. “Seizures like these exemplify CBP’s continued commitment to advancing the agency’s border security mission.”
Meth seized at Rio Grande City port
On Tuesday, CBP officers say they found $1.7 million worth of methamphetamine inside a car coming from Camargo, Mexico, at the Rio Grande City International Bridge in Starr County.
The car was driven by a 26-year-old Mexican woman in a vehicle that was sent to secondary inspection. There, 83 packages of drugs totaling almost 200 pounds were discovered by a canine team and nonintrusive inspection equipment, the agency says.
“Our frontline CBP officers utilized an effective combination of technology and inspections experience to take down this significant load of methamphetamine in a passenger vehicle,” said Rio Grande City Port Director Rogelio Olivares. “This seizure underscores the reality of the drug threat and the importance of upholding our priority border security mission.”
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@borderreport.com.