
Mexican Truckers Nabbed in Two Big Rig Cocaine Smuggling Busts
Pharr, TX – Two Mexican truckers could soon face drug smuggling charges after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized more than $750,000 worth of cocaine from their rigs last week.
According to CBP, the two drug seizures occurred within minutes of each other on August 3 at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility.
In the first bust, a 41-year-old Mexican national operating a tractor-trailer was referred for a secondary inspection.
Upon further examination of the conveyance, officers discovered 18 packages of alleged cocaine weighing 47 lbs (21.32 kg) concealed within the tractor, CBP said.
Then moments later, CBP officers encountered a big rig arriving from Mexico driven by a 39-year-old male Mexican national.
A secondary inspection also led officers to the discovery of 23 packages of alleged cocaine weighing 52.64 lbs (23.88 kg) concealed within the vehicle.
CBP estimated the street value of the drugs to be $768,700.
The drivers were taken into custody and the narcotics, along with the tractor-trailers were seized by CBP.
The cases remain under investigation by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations.