Drug Traffickers Caught Attempting to Smuggle Cocaine on Busy Weekend
During the Memorial Day weekend, suspected drug traffickers attempted to smuggle around $1.1 million worth of cocaine across the Progreso International Bridge. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, working through the holiday, intercepted a suspected cartel smuggler when they found hidden contraband in his vehicle.
On Saturday, agents at the Progreso Port of Entry became suspicious of a 22-year-old U.S. citizen trying to cross into the United States from Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The individual, driving a 2026 GMC Sierra pickup truck, was directed to a secondary inspection area for a closer look.
In this secondary inspection, personnel used non-intrusive technology to check vehicles for concealed items. They uncovered 33 packages containing 88 pounds of cocaine inside the truck, with an estimated street value of about $1,175,085.
The suspect was arrested and handed over to the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division for further investigation into the seizure and potential state drug charges. Authorities also seized the suspect’s vehicle at the port, which will be processed for possible forfeiture.
Michael Martinez, Director of the Progreso Donna Port of Entry, emphasized the importance of the seizure, stating, “During the Memorial Day weekend traffic jams, CBP’s frontline officers maintained high alert and seized a significant amount of narcotics. Enforcement actions like these perfectly demonstrate CBP’s unwavering commitment to border security, which is our priority.”
This recent cocaine seizure adds to over $1.2 million worth of cocaine taken at a nearby port of entry in South Texas within the past few weeks. Reports mentioned that officers seized nearly 100 pounds of cocaine in two incidents at the Hidalgo International Bridge and Farr International Bridge in Texas.
The smuggling attempt underscores ongoing efforts by Mexican drug cartels to utilize land ports of entry amid tightening border security. There’s a noticeable rise in drugs being smuggled through these points, and relying on daily legal traffic isn’t always reliable. Tightened enforcement measures under the Trump administration haven’t solely focused on borders; they also included the abrupt termination of a parole program that facilitated asylum seekers at land ports.
Sources indicated that the end of this resource-intensive program, which required CBP officers to handle asylum seekers, has allowed more agents to focus on enforcement duties, such as cargo inspections, and enhances K-9 inspections with non-intrusive technology to thwart cartel operations at drug trafficking ports.
