U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced officers arrested a 25-year-old McAllen woman Saturday after finding nearly 85 pounds of methamphetamine inside her vehicle.
According to CBP, arrived at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge in a silver Toyota Camry.
A criminal complaint identifies her as Lorena Patricia Martinez.
CBP officers referred Martinez to secondary where authorities examined the vehicle with a non-intrusive imaging system.
The inspection revealed 84.66 pounds of liquid methamphetamine hidden inside the vehicle’s gas tank, according to CBP.
CBP turned the woman over to Homeland Security Investigations.
“Our frontline CBP officers employ their inspections experience along with persistence and this has proven effective in detaching contraband and keeping it out of our communities, as this seizure demonstrates, Carlos Rodriguez, port director, said.
CBP says the narcotics are valued at nearly $1.7 million.
Martinez, who spoke with HSI, said she wasn’t sure what kind of narcotics she was transporting but she assumed it was cocaine, according to the complaint.
She also said she is generally paid $1,000 per kilogram for each completed trip and said the drugs were destined for Houston, according to HSI.
Court records didn’t immediately list a first appearance date.
