PHARR, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers thwarted a substantial fentanyl smuggling operation in Texas on Thursday, seizing more than $1 million worth of the drug.
“CBP officers intercepted this load of fentanyl, the largest thus far in port history, thanks to great teamwork and the utilization of all available tools and resources,” Carlos Rodriguez, director of the Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry, said in a prepared statement.
“It is important to remember how lethal fentanyl is, which is why our officers always work wearing personal protective equipment and use vital equipment which can identify these dangerous substances before officers handle them,” he added.
According to the agency, investigators at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility discovered 19 packages of suspected fentanyl concealed within a shipment arriving via tractor-trailer from Mexico. The seized narcotics weighed slightly more than 44 pounds.
The agency seized both the drugs and the vehicle, and the case remains under by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations agents.