Productive Weekend Yields Over $4.5 Million In Narcotics For CBP Field Operations At Hidalgo International Bridge/ It's Time To Build & Finish The Wall https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/u412/Hidalgo%20Welcome.JPG *HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge were busy this weekend not only processing legitimate trade and travelers but intercepting narcotics worth a total of $4,613,000. “Not only were students getting ready for a new school year but it appeared like smugglers were also attempting to get going,” said Port Director Sylvia Briones, Port of Hidalgo/ Pharr/ Anzalduas. “Our officers stood up to the challenge and intercepted two substantial loads of hard narcotics.” View of the entrance to Hidalgo International BridgeThe first interception occurred on Aug. 17, at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge after a CBP officer referred a 24-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a black 2008 Lincoln MKX for further inspection. A thorough secondary examination resulted in officers discovering that three large paint buckets the traveler was bringing contained alleged liquid methamphetamine. CBP officers seized the five-gallon buckets, which contained 132.85 pounds (60.26 kg) of methamphetamine and are valued at $2,657,000.  The following day at the same border crossing, CBP officers referred a 30-year-old man, a U.S. citizen from Arkansas, driving a maroon 1989 Chevy Suburban for a secondary examination. The secondary inspection, which included the assistance of a (canine team), allowed the officers to discover narcotics concealed within pieces of a children’s plastic play set. Officers seized 56.65 pounds (24.70 kg) of alleged methamphetamine and 20.54 pounds (9.32 kg) of heroin, respectively.  The methamphetamine is valued at $1,134,000 and the heroin at $822,000. CBP OFO seized both vehicles, the narcotics and arrested the two men who were turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents who continue with the investigations. https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/u413/TFO_SLU4Meth_081919.JPG ( LINK BELOW ) https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/productive-weekend-yields-over-45-million-narcotics-cbp-field