U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations, officers intercepted more than $23 million in alleged methamphetamine on July 6 at the Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility.
The bridge connects Pharr, Texas, with the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
The drugs were concealed in a commercial tractor trailer hauling a shipment of papayas from Mexico. A CBP officer referred the truck for further inspection by a canine team and nonintrusive inspection equipment. During a physical inspection, officers found 384 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing of 2,571 pounds concealed within the vehicle with an estimated street value of $23.6 million.
“This massive methamphetamine seizure reflects the dangerous reality of the drug threat our officers face every day and the effective utilization of experience and technology to zero-in and take down these loads,” Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry port director, said.
The officers seized the narcotics and tractor trailer. Homeland Security Investigations special agents have begun a criminal investigation.
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Sector seized more than 800 pounds of marijuana and made 15 arrests between July 5-8. The largest single seizure occurred July 5 at Rio Grande City Station where agents found 28 bundles weighing 359 pounds in an abandoned vehicle.