Ivan Pierre Aguirre / USA TODAY NETWORK
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations officers assigned to the the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in Texas recently made a massive drug bust. It occurred when more than $6.2 million worth of cocaine was discovered hidden in a shipment of plastic wrap.
On Wednesday, March 5, CBP officers were inspecting a commercial tractor trailer hauling a shipment of plastic wrap making entry into the United States from Mexico. After an officer selected the tractor trailer for secondary inspection, which included utilizing non-intrusive inspection (NII) equipment and screening by a canine team, the agents found a total of 150 packages of alleged cocaine weighing 470.68 pounds concealed within the plastic roll shipment.
Customs and Border Protection
“Large cocaine seizures like this not only underscore the seriousness of the drug threat our frontline CBP officers face every day but also the effectiveness of applying inspection experience and technology to zero in and take down this load, preventing it from reaching U.S. streets,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
The seized cocaine has an estimated street value of $6,284,586. The tractor trailer, narcotics and driver over to Texas Department of Public Safety officers who arrested the driver and initiated a criminal investigation.
Just a few days prior to the massive cocaine seizure at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Texas referred a 2015 Chevy Traverse for secondary inspection. Again, after using a non-intrusive inspection system and CBP canines, the officers discovered 10 packages containing 25.92 pounds of alleged cocaine hidden within the vehicle.
The narcotics had an estimated street value of $346,167. CBP officers seized the narcotics along with the vehicle, and Homeland Security Investigations special agents have initiated a criminal investigation into the attempting smuggling.
Customs and Border Protection
“Our frontline CBP officers continue to remain agile and focused on CBP border security mission and that attention to detail contributed to this significant cocaine seizure,” said Port Director Rodriguez. “Seizures like these continue to illustrate CBP’s ongoing commitment to keeping our border communities safe.”