HIDALGO, Texas—In back-to-back enforcement actions over 48 hours, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry intercepted more than $3 million in cocaine and heroin in two separate enforcement actions in the passenger vehicle and cargo environments.

“There’s more and more of this happening in our community,” says Ms. Guzman, a resident of Hidalgo, Texas. “I am glad that they are out there, these men, looking for these drugs that poison our families.”

“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.”

On 30 November 2024, CBP officers assigned to the Hidalgo International Bridge encountered a grey Chevrolet SUV making entry from Mexico. The vehicle was selected for inspection, which included the use of non-intrusive inspection (NII) equipment. After physically inspecting the vehicle, officers extracted 13 packages, which resulted in the discovery of 15.60 pounds (7.08kgs) of alleged heroin and 9.12 pounds (4.14kgs) of alleged cocaine concealed within the vehicle. The heroin has an estimated street value of $299,300, and the cocaine is valued at $121,800.

The next day, 1 December 2024, CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility encountered a tractor-trailer making entry from Mexico. The tractor-trailer was selected for inspection using non-intrusive inspection equipment. After physically inspecting the tractor-trailer, officers extracted 80 packages of alleged cocaine weighing 196.21 pounds (89 kg) concealed within the shipment of peppers. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $2,619,800.

CBP OFO seized the narcotics and vehicles from these enforcement encounters. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents initiated criminal investigations into the seizures.  

“The more drugs that are seized before coming into the country is a boon,” says Bryan Richards, a resident of Pharr, Texas. “It keeps people from dying from that poison and hits the drug cartels in the wallet. I’m glad this happened.”