A Reynosa pharmacy supervisor is expected to face a federal judge in McAllen after he allegedly tried to smuggle more than $4.4 million dollars worth of cocaine into the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested 27-year-old Cristian Santiago-Garin on federal drug charges.
Investigators told Action 4 News that Santiago-Garin drove up to Mission's Anzalduas International Bridge in a 2010 Dodge Nitro on Sunday.
Court records released Wednesday show Santiago-Garin was with his wife and their one-and-a-half-year-old son.
The 27-year-old Mexican pharmacist told customs officers he and his family were going shopping in McAllen.
Customs officers inspected the SUV and found 57 bundles with 139.7 pounds of cocaine hidden in the rear seat floorboard.
Authorities estimate that the drugs are worth $4,472,692 dollars on the streets.
Santiago-Garin told customs officer that got involved in the deal through a car sales man he met in Reynosa four months ago.
The pharmacy supervisor told customs officers that he knew the SUV had drugs but didn't know what kind or how much.
Santiago-Garin appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter E. Ormsby in McAllen on Monday morning.
Court records show Santiago-Garin is originally from Chilpancingo, Guerrero. The town is located halfway between Mexico City and Acapulco.
Judge Ormsby denied bond for Santiago-Garin until a Thursday morning hearing.
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