U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in California and Texas seized approximately 350 pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin over the weekend. The seizures occurred as drivers attempted to enter the U.S. from Mexico.
CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers assigned to the Hidalgo International Bridge on February 29 observed a Texas woman and her son approaching in a 2004 grey Toyota 4 Runner SUV in preparation to enter Texas from Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Officers referred the woman to a secondary station for further inspection, according to information obtained from Rio Grande Valley Sector CBP officials.
Officers conducted a secondary inspection utilizing non-intrusive imaging (NII) technology. The scans revealed anomalies in the SUVs tires. The officers conducted a physical search of the vehicle and found 23 packages of methamphetamine and one package of heroin hidden in tires, officials stated.
The methamphetamine weighed 134.5 pounds and the heroin weighed 5.73 pounds. Officials estimated the street value of the drugs to be $2,920,000.
That same day, San Diego Sector OFO officers assigned to the San Ysidro Port of Entry observed a 20-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman — both Mexican nationals — approaching in a vehicle for entry into California. A roving K-9 detection team alerted to the possible presence of drugs in the floorboard of the vehicle. The officers referred the driver and passenger to a secondary inspection station.
During a search of the vehicle, officers found 80 packages containing heroin and methamphetamine. Officers reported the weight of the heroin to be five pounds and the methamphetamine weighed 90 pounds.
A few hours later, officers at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry observed a Volkswagen Jetta approaching for entry into California. After a K-9 team alerted to the possible presence of drugs, the officers referred the woman, a 32-year-old woman, her husband, age 36, and their two minor children to a secondary inspection station. During an “intensive examination” officers found 42 wrapped packages of cocaine hidden in the dashboard and rear quarter panels of the vehicle. Officers arrested the occupants — all Mexican nationals — and seized the drugs and vehicle.
Officials estimated the value of the two California seizures at $1.8 million brings the total for the three ports of entry to more than $4.2 million for the single day of operations.
All of those arrested were turned over to ICE Homeland Security Investigations for processing and possible prosecution for drug smuggling.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior news contributor for the Breitbart Texas-Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston’s What’s Your Point? Sunday-morning talk show. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Face
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