CBP Officers in Texas Seize $1.9 Million in Brown Heroin in One Day

Hidalgo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized approximately 24.7 pounds of brown heroin in two separate and unrelated drug seizures. The combined estimated street value of the heroin is $1,982,376.

On Feb. 21, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2008 Kia Rondo SUV and its driver, a 33-year-old U.S. citizen from Chicago. A female passenger was identified as 20-year-old U.S. citizen from Cicero, Ill.

A CBP officer referred the vehicle, driver and passenger to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, officers seized seven packages of alleged brown heroin that were found within the vehicle. In this action, the heroin packages weighed approximately 17.1 pounds and was valued at $1,375,670.

On the same date, CBP officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge came in contact with a northbound taxicab passenger. The male traveler was identified as a 20-year-old U.S. citizen from Boston, Massachusetts. After the initial primary inspection, the cab and passenger were referred to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, officers seized four packages of alleged brown heroin that were found in cans of black refried beans. Each of the four cans contained one alleged package of brown heroin. In this seizure, the alleged heroin weighed approximately 7.5 pounds and was valued at $606,705.

CBP officers seized the Kia Rondo and transferred the two men and one female to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

Hector A. Mancha, CBP port director said, “I commend our cadres of frontline officers for their roles in seizing these two significant amounts of brown heroin. For the Hidalgo Port of Entry and for this year, this is the first recorded brown heroin seizure found hidden in cans of refried beans.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.