U.S. Customs Apprehends Child Smuggler

HIDALGO, TEXAS -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers working at the Hidalgo port of entry arrested one woman on alien smuggling charges Thursday, December 29. They also intercepted two cocaine loads, two marijuana loads, heroin and methamphetamine in five different drug seizures during the last 36 hours. The alien smuggling case occurred when 33-year-old Suzanna E. Pruneda of Mission, Texas arrived at the port along with two young children in a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban. Pruneda claimed that a 7-year-old girl was a U.S. citizen and her daughter. She claimed that a 3-year-old boy was her godson and also a U.S. citizen. CBP officers began investigating further and quickly determined that the children were brother and sister, the older being a citizen of Mexico and the younger a citizen of the U.S. CBP officers also discovered just under 2 grams of cocaine in her purse. Pruneda was arrested on alien smuggling charges and was slated to make her initial appearance in federal court today on the alien smuggling charges. The 7-year-old girl was turned over to Mexican Immigration officials. The 3-year-old was turned over to his biological father in the U.S. In addition to the child smuggling case, CBP officers at the Hidalgo port of entry made the following significant drug seizures recently: At approximately 5:30 p.m. on December 14, CBP officers seized 16.9 pounds of methamphetamine. The drugs were discovered in a 2001 Honda Accord after CBP officers initiated an intensive inspection of the vehicle. CBP officers removed a total of 11 methamphetamine filled packages from a dashboard compartment. A 20-year-old male from Hidalgo, Texas was arrested by ICE special agents in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. At approximately 7:30 p.m. on December 14, CBP officers seized 111.9 pounds of marijuana. The drugs were discovered in a 1991 GMC pickup truck after CBP officers targeted the vehicle during a pre-primary roving operation. CBP officers removed a total of 32 marijuana filled packages from a floor compartment of the truck. The violator was assessed a $10,000 penalty. At approximately 9:30 a.m. on December 15, CBP officers seized 6 pounds of heroin and 14.9 pounds of cocaine in one seizure. The drugs were discovered in a 1993 Ford Ranger pickup after CBP officers discovered discrepancies in the appearance of the vehicle. CBP officers removed a total of 3 heroin-filled packages and 9 cocaine-filled bundles from a dashboard compartment. A 45-year-old female from Raymondville, Texas was arrested by ICE special agents in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. At approximately 1:25 p.m. on December 15, CBP officers seized 50-pounds of marijuana. The drugs were discovered in a 1994 Honda Accord after CBP officers discovered discrepancies in the fuel tank of the vehicle. CBP officers removed a total of 23 marijuana-filled packages from the gas tank and an additional 8 bricks from the rear seat. The violator was assessed a $10,000 penalty and turned over to the Hidalgo police department for prosecution on outstanding warrants. At approximately 3:45 p.m. on December 15, CBP officers seized 15.6 pounds of cocaine. The drugs were discovered in a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria after CBP officers using a Buster density meter to search the vehicle received high readings consistent with drug smuggling in the dashboard area of the car. CBP officers removed a total of 6 cocaine- filled packages from a dashboard compartment. The violator was assessed a $10,000 penalty. The CBP workforce at the Hidalgo port of entry is effectively balancing the enforcement concerns of CBP with the need to keep traffic moving during this period of heavy holiday related traffic, said David Higgerson, CBP Port Director, Hidalgo/Pharr. It is the professionalism and dedication of the Hidalgo port of entry workforce that allows CBP to effectively meet both these challenges successfully on a daily basis.