U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents stationed at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility seized approximately $5 million in two separate, unrelated incidents last week.
The first incident occurred on June 30 when officers encountered a tractor trailer hauling a commercial shipment of jalapeños. After the vehicle was referred for a non-intrusive imaging inspection, officers, with help of a canine team, discovered approximately 132 pounds of alleged methamphetamine concealed within boxes of jalapeños. The street value for the narcotics was approximately $2.6 million.
The second incident occurred later that same day when officers encountered another tractor trailer carrying a commercial shipment of cucumbers. After referring the vehicle for a non-intrusive imaging inspection, officers discovered a total of 194 packages containing approximately 107 pounds of alleged methamphetamine concealed within the cucumber shipment. The street value of the narcotics was approximately $2.1 million.
CBP Office of Field Operations seized the narcotics and both cases remain under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations special agents.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) charged with the management, control and protection of the nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry.