6/19/2014
Two Mexican nationals remain in federal custody following their arrests on drug smuggling charges.
Cindy Vianney Hernandez Lizarraga, 25, and Daniel Alejandro Ruiz-Rios, 23, both of Matamoros, were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in separate incidents that occurred over the weekend, documents show.
According to federal court documents, Hernandez Lizarraga was arrested Friday at the Gateway Inter-national Bridge in Brownsville after she attempted to smuggle 6.3 kilograms or more than 13 pounds of cocaine into the United States. Officers reported five bundles of what appeared to be cocaine was found inside the car doors of Lizarraga’s Ford Focus.
During an interview with Hernandez, she admitted to knowing that she was in “possession of the narcotics” and admitted to smuggling the drugs for monetary gains, court documents show.
Ruiz Rios was arrested Sunday at Veterans International Bridge, also in Brownsville, after authorities found 2.2 kilograms or more than four pounds of what was believed to be heroin inside the Ford Focus he was driving, court documents show.
The heroin was found in four canisters concealed behind the front dash of the vehicle, court documents show.
According to the documents, Ruiz Rios admitted to investigators he was to be paid $500 to smuggle the drugs.
Both Hernandez Lizarraga and Ruiz Rios appeared before U.S. Magistrate Ronald Morgan on Monday. They were denied bond and remanded to federal custody.
A detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Federal authorities estimated the combined value of the drugs is almost $600,000.
No comments:
Post a Comment