U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) agents stationed at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in Texas recently seized approximately $4,199,321 worth of alleged methamphetamine and marijuana in separate incidents.
The first incident began on Sept. 28 when officers encountered a 1989 Kenworth tractor-trailer and referred it for a more thorough, secondary inspection. With the use of a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system and a companion narcotics-detection canine team, the officers extracted a total of 108 packages containing more than 1,770 pounds of alleged marijuana concealed within a shipment of watermelons. According to CBP, the marijuana carried an approximate street value of $354,058.
Two days later, agents referred a 1995 Freightliner tractor-trailer for a secondary inspection. Using an NII system and a narcotics-detecting canine team, the officers discovered a total of 422 packages containing more than 2,444 pounds of alleged marijuana hidden within a shipment of frozen mangos and blueberries. According to CBP, the marijuana carried an estimated street value of $488,980.
Later that same day, officers referred a white 2008 Ford F-350 pickup truck for another secondary inspection. A physical search of the vehicle led to the discovery of more than 167 pounds of alleged methamphetamine which, according to CBP, carried a value of approximately $3,365,283 on the street.
“These are tremendous narcotics seizures,” Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry Deputy Director Donna Sifford said. “I commend our CBP officers for their continued hard work and fidelity to the CBP mission.”
All narcotics were seized by CBP OFO while each driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for criminal processing.