U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Hidalgo Port of Entry seized cocaine valued at more than $605,000 from a passenger vehicle on April 6, according to an April 10 announcement.
The seizure highlights ongoing efforts by CBP to prevent illegal narcotics from entering the United States and affecting communities.
According to CBP, the incident took place at the Pharr International Bridge when a Chrysler 200 was referred for secondary inspection. Officers used canine teams and nonintrusive inspection technology to examine the vehicle. They discovered 19 packages containing a total of 45.37 pounds of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of $605,792.
Port Director Carlos Rodriguez said, “This seizure reflects our officers’ steadfast commitment to the border security mission and reflects the effective use of technology and inspection skill. Thanks to their successful work, these narcotics will not enter nor wreak havoc on American streets.”
CBP reported that it seized the narcotics and that Homeland Security Investigations special agents are conducting further investigation into the case.
CBP describes itself as America’s frontline agency with over 67,000 personnel working across various environments to enforce safe travel and trade while protecting national security through innovation and collaboration.
