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United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers foiled the plans of more alleged criminals to smuggle illegal narcotics into the country. Last week, over a two day span, Office of Field Operations officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge were able to seize $1.4 million worth of alleged cocaine, weapons, and ammunition.
On November 15, Customs and Border Protection agents stopped a silver Chevrolet SUV trying to gain entry into the United States from Mexico. After a secondary inspection using NII technology and screening by a canine team, followed by a physical inspection of the vehicle, 12 packages of alleged cocaine were discovered in the SUV. The 27.78 pounds of alleged cocaine that was confiscated has an estimated street value of $370,893.
NII, or Non-Intrusive Inspection, technology includes large-scale X-ray and Gamma-ray imaging systems, as well as a variety of portable and handheld technologies used to detect contraband (e.g., narcotics and weapons) and materials that pose potential nuclear and radiological threats.
That same day, CBP officers at the Anzalduas International Bridge in McAllen, Texas pulled over a white Chevrolet pick-up for secondary inspection. During that inspection, officers found four handguns, 1,070 rounds of ammunition in various calibers, six weapon magazines for numerous rifle brands and calibers and 21 weapon components that were trying to be smuggled into Mexico.
Triple threat taken down: @DFOLaredo @CBP officers at #Hidalgo Port of Entry seize $1.4M in cocaine, weapons and 1,070 rounds of ammunition in three separate enforcement actions. @HSI_SanAntonio is investigating. Read more here: https://t.co/Hs7XY7T0N9 pic.twitter.com/EhzsE6SrE2
— CBP South Texas (@CBPSouthTexas) November 19, 2024
Then, on November 17, back at the Hidalgo International Bridge, Customs and Border Protection officers requested a secondary inspection on a white Mazda SUV making entry into the United States from Mexico.
Using NII equipment and then performing a physical inspection of the vehicle, the officers discovered a total of 30 packages of alleged cocaine concealed within the vehicle. The 77.34 pounds of alleged cocaine that was seized in that bust had an estimated street value of $1,032,614.
“Our CBP officers don’t skip a beat when it comes to keeping our country safe. These back-to-back interceptions of weapons, ammunition, and narcotics illustrate the tireless work being done at our port of entry,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, seized all of the narcotics, weapons, ammunition and weapon parts along with the vehicles. Homeland Security Investigations special agents initiated criminal investigations, while Hidalgo High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) officers arrested the driver of the white Mazda SUV.