Mica for cartelinsider.com
In an operation carried out at the Port of Entry in the city of Rio Grande, Texas, agents from the US Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations were able to seize cocaine valued at approximately $888,000.
The seizure of the drugs is part of the weekly report of the CBP, although they emphasized that such seizure occurred in a single police operation, which took place on April 8 and resulted in the confiscation of approximately 67 pounds (over 30 kilograms) of this drug.
The seizure occurred after the inspection of a tractor towing an empty container, but CBP officials decided to conduct a more thorough inspection of the vehicle. During this second CBP inspection, with the support of specialized canine units, 28 hidden packages containing cocaine were uncovered.
The Director of the Port, Rogelio Olivares, emphasized the importance of experience, police expertise, and the use of advanced technology in the fight against drug trafficking. Olivares highlighted the significant impact of these efforts on ensuring border security and promoting a safe environment for legitimate trade and travel.
The narcotics, along with the driver of the vehicle, the tractor, and the trailer, were handed over to state and local authorities, specifically to a specialized team in combating high-intensity drug trafficking (HIDTA). This group will conduct the corresponding investigations to determine the details of the case and possibly identify and dismantle illicit trafficking networks operating in the region.
The city of Río Grande is a neighboring town of Camargo, Tamaulipas, a region under the control of the Gulf Cartel but with cells of the Old School Los Setas and the Northeast Cartel disputing some territories. It is located a few kilometers from Reynosa and McAllen, making it a strategic point for the shipment of drugs to the United States.
The fact is that with increased surveillance at the main border crossings between Mexico and the United States, drug cartels are searching for new routes to send illegal substances; this is how, in 15 days, more than 1.6 million dollars in cocaine was seized was attempting to enter through Tamaulipas.
On March 24, CBP officers stopped another seizure of cocaine that was hidden in a car intended to cross the Juárez Lincoln International Bridge. The weight of the drug was 52.69 pounds, with an estimated illegal market value of $703,520, according to Border Patrol calculations.
Another fact that caught the attention of public opinion was the arrest of Denisse Ahumada Martínez, councilor of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, which took place in June of last year; the PAN politician was crossing the border to San Antonio but was captured in the city of Falfurrias for transporting 42 kilograms of cocaine.
The drugs would have a street value of over 900 thousand dollars. After alleged irregularities in the arrest of the Mexican politician, Ahumada Martinez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of a controlled substance, thereby avoiding going to trial, where she faced a possible life sentence and a fine of up to 10 million dollars; now she awaits sentencing for her crime.
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Mica
Email: mica@cartelinsider.com
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