As September 2024 draws to a close, there have been significant seizures along the Texas border with Mexico. Federal agents on the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge had their suspicions raised on Saturday, Sept. 21, when they encountered a 21-year-old woman from Dallas who was returning to the United States. And it turns out, their suspicions were well-founded.
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Officers uncovered a total of twenty-two packages concealed within her car. The packages contained over fifty pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $675,850.
Three days prior, CBP Officers made a significant discovery on the Del Rio International Bridge. They uncovered a concealed compartment within a truck that was entering Texas from Mexico. Upon further inspection, they found 23 packages containing a total of over 38 pounds of cocaine. The estimated street value of the seized drugs amounts to $516,896.
CBP Agriculture Specialists at the Port of Presidio intercepted 340 kilograms of bologna and 282 boxes of medication. CBP Agriculture Specialists play a vital role in safeguarding the public from foreign animal diseases, as well as the illicit resale of medication. pic.twitter.com/4B5cwvDAk9
— Director Field Operations, Hector A. Mancha (@DFOElPaso) September 24, 2024
In recent days, there have been several notable seizures along the Texas border. One such incident occurred on September 23, 2024, when five packages containing $79,392 in unreported currency were discovered hidden within a vehicle crossing the Hidalgo International Bridge. It is believed that this cash represents illegal profits being smuggled across the border to one of the Mexican cartels. Investigators from Homeland Security in San Antonio are currently working to determine the source of these funds.
At the Port of Presidio, US Customs inspectors recently discovered a surprising smuggling attempt. They decided to inspect several suspicious suitcases and were astonished to find a large load of bologna being smuggled into Texas.
The luncheon meat load weighed nearly 750 pounds. Customs inspectors not only found the seized cold cuts but also uncovered a significant shipment of Mexican pharmaceuticals, totaling 242 boxes.
It is believed that the meat and medicines were intended to be sold in Texas.