Jalapenos and $1M cocaine leave smuggler sweating

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers assigned to Rio Grande City Port of Entry cargo operations recently seized more than 80 pounds of cocaine in a shipment of peppers.

The seizure occurred on, Sept. 24 at the Rio Grande City Port of Entry, when a CBP officer referred a commercial Kenworth tractor trailer, manifesting Serrano and Jalapeno peppers, for secondary inspection. Following a thorough examination, that included use of a non-intrusive inspection system, CBP officers discovered 35 packages containing a total of 80.55 pounds of alleged cocaine within the trailer. The narcotics had a street value of $1.075 million.

CBP seized the narcotics. Homeland Security Investigations special agents are investigating the seizure.

“Our CBP officers continue to maintain strict vigilance in our cargo environment and narcotic interdiction will always remain a major part of CBP’s mission to secure our border,” said Port Director Rogelio Olivares, Rio Grande City Port of Entry. “We remain dedicated to our mission of keeping the border safe.”