November 5, 09

NEWS / CBP Officers at Texas Bridge Seize $1.8 Million in Mexican Brown Heroin, One Female Arrested

Progreso, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Progreso International Bridge seized approximately 22 pounds of Mexican brown heroin with an estimated street value of nearly $1.8 million.


On November 2, CBP officers working at the Progreso International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2008 Dodge 2500 pickup truck. After the initial primary inspection, the vehicle and female driver were referred to secondary for further inspection.


While checking the vehicle’s engine compartment, officers noted discrepancies to two of the truck’s batteries. “Akela,” a narcotic detector dog, alerted officers to the odor of narcotic odors emanating from the truck’s engine compartment. CBP officers then referred the two truck batteries for a non-intrusive image scan.


X-ray images revealed anomalies within the batteries. CBP officers dismantled the batteries and found a total of 12 packages of Mexican brown heroin in them. The driver, identified as Amanda Lee Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen, age 21 from Weslaco, Texas was arrested on federal drug charges. After her arrest, Gonzalez was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents who continue to investigate this failed smuggling attempt.


Pending appearance before a U.S. Magistrate, Gonzalez remains incarcerated. CBP officers seized the 2008 Dodge pickup truck.


Noel Sanchez, CBP port director, Hidalgo/Pharr said, “This is one of the largest heroin seizures that our officers have intercepted and that has been found concealed in two truck batteries.” Sanchez further said, “I commend our frontline officers, K-9 officers and their K-9 partners for a job well done.”

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/11032009_4.xml