$3 million in drugs seized through Thanksgiving weekend in back-to-back busts

HIDALGO, Texas - Back-to-back massive drug busts at the southern border yielded millions of dollars in narcotics.

On Nov. 30, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge referred a grey Chevrolet SUV attempting to enter the country from Mexico and referred it for secondary inspection.

Upon a non-intrusive inspection, as well as a physical inspection, officers found 13 packages containing 15.6 pounds of alleged heroin and 9.12 pounds of alleged cocaine.

The heroin was valued at an estimated $299,300, and the cocaine was valued at $121,800.

The next day, CBP Officers at the Pharr International Bridge encountered a tractor-trailer making entry from Mexico and referred it for secondary inspection.

After a non-intrusive inspection, followed by a physical inspection, officers found and removed 80 packages of alleged cocaine, weighing 196.21 pounds, all concealed within a shipment of peppers.

That cocaine was valued at a grand total of $2,619,800.

“Drug trafficking organizations don’t take holiday weekends off, and neither do we,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry. “As these two significant narcotics interceptions aptly illustrate, CBP maintains its enforcement posture regardless of the time of year.”

CBP Officers seized the narcotics, and Homeland Security Investigations initiated criminal investigations into the seizures.