Pharr, Texas, officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations, at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility, intercepted a substantial quantity of cocaine valued at approximately $1M. Port Director Carlos Rodriguez of the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry emphasized the ongoing challenge of narcotics smuggling into the United States and commended the CBP officers for their diligent efforts in using every tool and resource at their disposal to halt this particular attempt.
The interception took place on March 15, 2024, when CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility were inspecting incoming vehicles from Mexico. A tractor trailer was selected for a detailed inspection which led to the discovery. The officers employed a variety of inspection methods including physical checks, non-intrusive inspection (NII) equipment, and a canine team. Their efforts led to the discovery of 50 packages of alleged cocaine, hidden within a shipment of concrete blocks, weighing a total of 121.87 pounds (55.28 kg).
Following the seizure of both the narcotics and the tractor trailer, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents were called in to initiate a criminal investigation into the incident.–Web Desk