A woman claimed she was not going to be paid for trying to smuggle approximately 56 pounds of cocaine through the Roma port of entry on Friday.
That’s what Blanca Moreno told special agents with Homeland Security Investigations that day after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found 20 bundles of cocaine hidden in several compartments in the Dodge Journey she drove to the bridge at approximately 6:25 a.m.
During an interview with special agents, Moreno said she met a man named Mario in Houston who was later deported, according to a criminal complaint.
“Moreno then traveled to Miguel Aleman, Mexico, where she met Mario and lived with him for a month,” the complaint stated.
While in Mexico, she drove the Dodge Journey, which she said Mario loaned her.
“Mario then asked Moreno if she was willing to travel into the US driving the Dodge Journey,” the complaint stated. “Mario informed Moreno that the Dodge Journey was going to be loaded with an unknown narcotic.”
She agreed and was instructed to drive to a local restaurant where she would receive a phone call and instructions, according to the complaint, which said she was supposed to hand over the vehicle to an unknown person and wait until it was returned to her.
“Moreno stated that she was not going to be paid any money,” the complaint stated. “Moreno stated that she transported the narcotics for Mario and does not know what financial deals Mario made with the owners of the narcotics.”
