Drug smugglers persist in their attempts to exploit the Texas border town of Roma as a conduit for narcotics into the U.S. Despite these efforts, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations recently thwarted an attempt to introduce an estimated $1 million worth of narcotics onto American streets.
A CBP news release reported that the incident took place on Dec. 2 at the Roma International Bridge, where CBP officers intercepted a passenger car arriving from Mexico.
Port Director Andres Guerra, of the Roma Port of Entry, commended his team's vigilance. "Our frontline officers continue to maintain their vigilance and discovered a significant quantity of cocaine," Guerra said. "Our CBP officers continue to remain dedicated to upholding the border security mission and this seizure reflects that dedication, tenacity and experience."
A separate CBP media release detailed how a canine alerted officers to potential drugs hidden inside the vehicle. Upon examination, officers found 29 packages containing a total of 80.47 pounds of cocaine concealed within the vehicle.
In August, another smuggling attempt was foiled by CBP officers at the Roma International Bridge. They discovered 49 pounds of cocaine hidden inside a commercial bus arriving from Mexico, according to another CBP news release.
Guerra reiterated his team's commitment in a subsequent statement. "Our top priority is to secure our borders and continue enforcing the law by interdicting narcotics," he said. "This seizure serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment of CBP officers in safeguarding our borders and protecting our communities from the harmful effects of illegal narcotics."
The media release also stated that the bus was referred for a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination. Officers found 22 packages containing a total of 49.34 pounds of alleged cocaine within the bus. The confiscated cocaine had an estimated street value exceeding $380,000. The case is currently under investigation by CBP officials and Homeland Security Investigations special agents.
