CBP seizes more than $2.4M worth of alleged methamphetamine

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said Office of Field Operations (OFO) personnel at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized $2,446,000 worth of alleged methamphetamine concealed within a vehicle.

On May 23, an officer encountered a brown 1999 Ford F150 pickup driven by a 20-year-old Houston, Texas, woman and referred her for further inspection. Upon secondary inspection, which included using non-intrusive imaging equipment (NII), officers discovered 122.3 pounds of alleged methamphetamine hidden within the truck’s gas tank.

“This was an excellent discovery of hard narcotics, amid the travel restrictions we are currently operating under,” Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/ Anzalduas, said. “This exemplifies OFO’s commitment and continued resolve to prevent drugs from crossing our borders.”

The OFO seized the narcotics, the truck and arrested the driver of the vehicle, CBP said, relinquishing her to the custody of agents with Homeland Security Investigations. They are slated to continue the investigation.

CBP is charged with the management, control, and protection of the nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry, as well as securing the borders while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.