Border Crisis: Officers seize $7.1 million in cocaine, heroin at International Bridge

PHARR, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge this week seized $7.1 million in cocaine, heroin in two separate enforcement actions.

“Our CBP officers continue to make steady strides advancing our border security mission as evidenced by these two significant narcotics seizures in the cargo environment totaling $7.1 million in street value,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. “We remain committed to keeping our communities safe from hard narcotics while facilitating lawful trade and travel.”

The first seizure occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at the Pharr International Bridge, when a CBP officer referred a 1996 Freightliner tractor trailer hauling an empty trailer for secondary inspection. CBP officers utilizing a non-intrusive inspection system scan and CBP canines discovered 84 packages containing a total of nearly 193 pounds of alleged cocaine within the trailer. The narcotics had a street value of $2,575,650.

The second seizure occurred the same day at the same bridge when CBP officers referred a 2016 Freightliner tractor hauling a shipment of plastic bags for a secondary inspection. Following a thorough examination that included use of a non-intrusive inspection system and CBP canines, CBP officers discovered hidden within the trailer 120 packages containing a total of 326 pounds of cocaine valued at $4,356,528 and five packages containing a total of 12 pounds of heroin valued at $232,534.

CBP seized the narcotics. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents are investigating both seizures.