A city councilor hailing from Reynosa, a border city in Mexico, has been arrested at a checkpoint in Texas after U.S. border patrol agents discovered approximately 93 pounds of cocaine in her vehicle, according to prosecutors.
As of Wednesday, Denisse Ahumada was still listed as one of the members of the Reynosa city council, which consists of around 20 individuals.
Court records reveal that she was apprehended on June 10 at an inland security checkpoint in Falfurrias, Texas, following an X-ray examination of her SUV that displayed abnormalities in the door panels and seats. Border Patrol agents found 42 packages wrapped in duct tape and foil, each containing roughly one kilogram of cocaine.
In a news release announcing the seizure of cocaine at the Falfurrias checkpoint, alongside another seizure at the Javier Vega Jr. checkpoint, Border Patrol stated that they had discovered narcotics totaling around 117 pounds with a street value exceeding $3.7 million.
According to prosecutors, Ahumada informed the agents that she had been tasked with delivering the drugs to San Antonio, Texas. She also revealed that she had previously transported similar shipments.
Ahumada did not respond to email requests for comment. She is now facing a charge of possession with the intent to distribute drugs in the U.S. District Court for southern Texas.
Local media outlets reported that Ahumada was associated with the conservative opposition National Action Party (PAN). However, the PAN office in the northern border state of Tamaulipas released a statement on Tuesday denying her membership or support for the party, while condemning drug smuggling.
State party leader Luis René Cantú stated that Ahumada had initially run for office under the Green Party ticket and subsequently expressed interest in joining the PAN. However, she later lost contact with the party.
Reynosa, a violent border city neighboring McAllen, Texas, has long been under the influence of various factions of the Gulf Cartel.
The Gulf Cartel has fragmented into warring factions following the arrest and extradition of several top leaders over the past decade.
Last month, Mexican police announced the arrest of a high-ranking member of the violent Metros faction of the cartel, who was allegedly involved in 23 attacks on police and nine attacks on military personnel. The suspect, known as Hugo Salinas Cortinas or “La Cabra,” was apprehended.
In March, the brother of Miguel Villarreal, also known as “Gringo Mike,” a former Gulf Cartel plaza boss, was sentenced to 180 months in prison in Houston for his role in cocaine distribution.
The Scorpions faction of the Gulf Cartel is believed to be responsible for the recent kidnapping of four Americans, resulting in the deaths of two of them.
This report has been contributed by AFP.
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