U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Del Rio Port of Entry seized more than half a million dollars' worth of illicit drugs from a minivan attempting to cross from Mexico into Texas last Thursday.

The 28-year-old male driver, identified as a U.S. citizen, was arrested following the discovery of 4.45 pounds of alleged methamphetamine, 8.81 pounds of alleged heroin, and 12.69 pounds of alleged fentanyl hidden in a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country minivan. Officials estimated the street value of the drugs at approximately $557,589.

CBP referred the vehicle to secondary inspection after it arrived at the Del Rio International Bridge connecting Del Rio, Texas, to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico. Officers used a nonintrusive inspection system and a canine team to locate the packages, according to the agency.

Homeland Security Investigations special agents took the driver into custody and launched a criminal investigation. CBP seized the suspected narcotics and the vehicle.

"By stopping these hard narcotics before they can enter our country, we are actively saving lives and dismantling the operations of criminal organizations," said Del Rio Port Director Liliana Flores.

The seizure highlights ongoing efforts by federal agents to intercept dangerous substances at ports of entry along the southern border. CBP has reported multiple similar interdictions in recent months involving various narcotics concealed in passenger vehicles and commercial shipments.