$1.2M in Fentanyl and Cocaine Seized Along Texas Border

In two separate seizures along the Texas-Mexico border, a whopping $1.2 million worth of illegal narcotics made up of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin was stopped from entering the U.S.

Drug Bust in McAllen, Texas

On January 17, border agents at the Anzalduas International Bridge port of entry in McAllen stopped a suspicious-looking Dodge Ram 1500 attempting to gain entry into the U.S.

Read More: Misdemeanor Vs. Felony: Breaking Down Texas Law

The truck was sent to secondary inspection where officers discovered 14 packages (32.18 pounds) of what they believed to be cocaine hidden within the vehicle.

"Our CBP officers' expertise with our tools and technology is second to none," Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port Director Carlos Rodriguez said.

One day later, on the 18th, CBP officers stopped another vehicle for secondary inspection. This time it was a Ford sedan, and agents led a canine team to inspect the suspicious passenger vehicle.

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Further investigations revealed a total of 52.07 pounds of alleged fentanyl separated into 22 individual packages. Officers also discovered two packages of alleged heroin weighing in at 2.33 pounds concealed within the vehicle.

In both instances, officers seized the vehicles while Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents arrested the drivers.

How Truly Harmful is Fentanyl?

As a controlled synthetic opioid drug, fentanyl is actually prescribed by doctors across the country. In fact, it is roughly 100 times more potent than morphine as a pain relief, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The issue with this drug is that it's often sold illegally and in fatal doses. Its appearance is also very similar to over-the-counter drugs sold at pharmacies, so it often goes unnoticed when mixed into other pills.

Fentanyl, unless prescribed by your trusted doctor, should never be consumed, as just a small amount can lead to overdose symptoms such as respiratory failure, coma, and even death.

You should always order your medications from a trusted pharmacy after speaking with a licensed medical professional.