Border Crisis: Officers Seize over $3 Million in Methamphetamine at Hidalgo International Bridge

HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge intercepted $3,061,000 in alleged methamphetamine in two incidents.

“As the holidays get closer, we tend to encounter increased attempts to secrete narcotics loads amid heaver traffic volumes and these two significant hard narcotics seizures perfectly illustrate that phenomenon,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

On Friday, December 10, 2021, CBP officers assigned to the Hidalgo International Bridge encountered a white Chrysler minivan, driven by a 20-year-old U.S. citizen woman, arriving from Mexico. A CBP officer referred the conveyance for further inspection, which included utilizing non-intrusive imaging (NII) equipment. After physically inspecting the conveyance, officers discovered 21 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing 191.18 pounds (86.72 kg) concealed within the vehicle.

On Sunday, December 12, 2021, CBP officers assigned to the Hidalgo International Bridge, encountered a gold Chevrolet sedan driven by a 20-year-old male U.S. citizen, arriving from Mexico. A CBP officer referred the conveyance for further inspection, which included utilizing non-intrusive imaging (NII) equipment and screening by a (canine team). After physically inspecting the conveyance, officers discovered 22 packages of methamphetamine weighing 27.46 pounds (12.46 kg) concealed within the vehicle.

CBP OFO seized the narcotics and vehicles, arrested the drivers and the cases remain under investigation by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI).