Border Officer Intercepts Cocaine Worth over $1 Million at the Starr-Camargo International Bridge

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Starr-Camargo International Bridge intercepted cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $1 million in a single enforcement action.

“The combination of inspectional techniques and technology, continue to prove beneficial in our efforts to intercept these dangerous drugs,” said Port Director Imelda Recio, Rio Grande City Port of Entry. “Seizures like this one help underscore the important role that our agency plays in border security.”

The seizure occurred on Thursday, Feb. 18 when CBP officers assigned to the commercial import lot at the Starr-Camargo International Bridge encountered a tractor hauling an empty trailer arriving from Mexico.  The 2006 Ken Worth tractor and trailer were referred to CBP secondary for further examination after a primary inspection.  In secondary, with the aid of a non-intrusive imaging system (NII) CBP officers discovered 63 packages containing 146 pounds of alleged cocaine concealed within the trailer.

The estimated street value of the narcotics from the seizure is approximately $1,126,489.

CBP officers seized the narcotics along with the tractor trailer, arrested the driver and turned him over to local authorities for further investigation.