CBP Officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge Seize Close to $1 Million in Cocaine

Hidalgo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge seized approximately 29.7 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of close to $1 million.

On March 26, 2011, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2008 Dodge Caliber sedan and its driver, a 51-year-old U.S. citizen from Lexington, Kentucky. After the initial primary inspection, a CBP officer referred the driver and vehicle to secondary for further inspection.

In secondary, officers discovered and seized 11 packages of alleged cocaine concealed behind the vehicle’s dashboard. CBP officers seized the vehicle as well.

The female traveler was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) for further investigation.

Hector A. Mancha, CBP Port Director, Hidalgo/Pharr said, “I commend our frontline police officers for their work in intercepting and seizing this significant amount of cocaine. Our officers remain vigilant, focused and continue working hard to secure our nation’s borders and the communities in which we live.”

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.