Officers arrested an 18-year-old Reynosa woman on Saturday, when she attempted to cross the Hidalgo bridge with nearly 16 kilograms of cocaine.
Ana Sarahi Contreras-Marines, 18, of Reynosa, attempted to cross the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge driving a silver 2008 Dodge Caliber, according to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Contreras said she crossed the border to visit her grandmother in McAllen, according to the criminal complaint against her.
Officers sent Contreras to secondary inspection after a U.S. Department of Homeland Security database linked her and the Dodge to drug smuggling.
During secondary inspection, a K-9 alerted to the driver’s side doors, according to the criminal complaint. Officers found 15 packages that weighed 15.84 kilograms of cocaine hidden i the door panels. The packages tested positive for cocaine.
Officers contacted agents with Homeland Security Investigations, a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who questioned Contreras about the cocaine.
After telling several different stories, Contreras admitted that a man nicknamed “Wero” registered the Dodge and asked her to make several trips to the United States, according to the criminal complaint.
“Contreras stated when she was handcuffed by CBP officers, she immediately thought they found ‘something’ in the vehicle,” according to the criminal complaint.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos ordered Contreras held until a detention hearing on Thursday.
Contreras’ attorney couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
