U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents had a major accomplishment on Friday, Dec. 13, at the International Bridge in Hidalgo, Texas. In a single enforcement action, they successfully confiscated illegal narcotics worth over $4.2 million that an individual was attempting to smuggle into the country.
At the Hidalgo Port of Entry, officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, were conducting inspections on the International Bridge. During their routine checks, a CBP officer referred a 2013 Chrysler van for secondary inspection. With the assistance of CBP canines and a non-intrusive inspection system, the dedicated agents uncovered 30 packages, containing a total of 442 pounds of suspected meth, as well as two packages containing nearly 18 pounds of alleged heroin, concealed within the vehicle.
“This is a high-value, combination load of narcotics and this interception reflects our CBP officers effective use of inspections experience, training and technology to successfully zero-in on this seizure and prevent this poison from reaching our streets,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo Port of Entry, in a press release.
If the seized meth and heroin had made their way onto the streets of America, the drugs would have been valued at around $4,294,759.
State and local High Intensity Drug Task Force (HIDTA) agents arrested the driver and launched a criminal investigation after taking possession of the 2013 Chrysler van and the illegal narcotics.
https://Twitter.com/CBPSouthTexas/status/1869059640392319371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1869059640392319371%7Ctwgr%5Eed9dd5c559afef925ec4efc02737a68193c609c6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s official Twitter account has been sharing a compilation of the organization’s top 24 highlights from 2024. Among these noteworthy moments are the successful interception of two endangered howler monkeys, the uncovering and confiscation of fentanyl pills valued at $4 million concealed within a pickup truck, and the seizure of over 2,000 counterfeit jewelry pieces worth more than $10 million.
https://twitter.com/CBP/status/1868703095909150859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1868703095909150859%7Ctwgr%5Eed9dd5c559afef925ec4efc02737a68193c609c6%7Ctwcon%5Es1