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    Contraband Tamales

    Most unusual drug bust ever? Man's ingenious smuggling plan exposed at Houston airport

    Claire St. Amant
    Aug 25, 2014 | 1:16 pm

    A man traveling from Houston to New York on Aug. 20 aroused suspicion when he failed to disclose he was carrying 200 tamales in his luggage.

    While there's nothing illegal about transporting traditional tamales, something caused the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport to take a closer look at the homemade food. When they did, officers discovered nine of the tamales looked a little different than the rest.

    Instead of being stuffed with beef or vegetables, they were full of white powder. The substance tested positive for cocaine. Authorities seized the contraband tamales containing nearly 7 ounces of cocaine and turned the 46-year-old El Salvadorian man over to the Houston Police Department.

    His name has not been released.

    “This type of seizure speaks to our level of commitment in disrupting criminal activity despite the concealment method,” customs director Beverly Good said in a statement.

    Depending on the cocaine's purity, the 7-ounce seizure could be worth up to $14,000.

    Border patrol agents at George Bush Intercontinental Airport seized nine bags of cocaine concealed inside tamales.

    Cocaine stuffed tamales
    Photo courtesy CBP
    Border patrol agents at George Bush Intercontinental Airport seized nine bags of cocaine concealed inside tamales.
    unspecified
    news/city-life

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    festive cities

    Houston dazzles among top 10 most festive cities in America for 2025

    Amber Heckler
    Nov 26, 2025 | 12:30 pm
    Pedestrian bridge to River Oaks
    River Oaks Christmas Lights in Houston TX/Facebook
    The River Oaks Christmas Lights are a fun place to take families.

    Houston has once again landed a coveted spot on Thumbtack's annual ranking of the most festive American cities in 2025.

    Home services platform Thumbtack analyzed holiday light installation requests from customers from October 2024 to 2025 to determine the most festive U.S. cities. Rankings were based on the "relative frequency" of requests after being adjusted for the population of each state and metro area.

    Houston ranked as the 6th most festive U.S. city this year, dropping two spots from its former No. 4 rank in 2024.

    Locals searching for inspiration for their homes can find it at the many twinkly displays illuminating Houston for the holidays, from the iconic City Lights to the rustic Dewberry Farm light show. And the holiday season is beginning earlier with every passing year, according to Thumbtack.

    "Homeowners are layering their look from October through December, swapping out pumpkins for pine boughs and adding sparkle as the season unfolds," the report said.

    Other festive holiday events happening around Houston include cheery pop-up bars, holiday markets, and much more. CultureMap readers can also keep up with all of Houston's holiday happenings in our special editorial series.

    Other big Texas cities like Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio also all landed top-10 spots in the report, proving the Lone Star State is much more festive than the rest of the country.

    "From Texas to Florida, the South is setting the standard for holiday spirit, and in true Texas fashion, bigger is definitely brighter," the report said. "Mild winters and a strong sense of community keep the Lone Star State shining at the top."

    Thumbtack's top 10 most festive U.S. cities in 2024 are:

    • No. 1 – Austin, Texas
    • No. 2 – Dallas, Texas
    • No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
    • No. 4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
    • No. 5 – Sacramento, California
    • No. 6 – Houston, Texas
    • No. 7 – San Francisco, California
    • No. 8 – Charlotte, North Carolina
    • No. 9 – San Antonio, Texas
    • No. 10 – Atlanta, Georgia
    festive citiesholidayschristmasrankingshouston
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