BROWNSVILLE: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville Port of Entry intercepted three loads of alleged narcotics over the weekend. CBP officers discovered the alleged drugs, which carried a combined street value of approximately $274,062, hidden within the three vehicles.
“Every load of narcotics that we intercept at our ports of entry helps to keep our streets safer,” said Port Director Petra Horne, Brownsville Port of Entry. “I congratulate our officers for their dedication which has prevented these dangerous narcotics from entering our country.”
Packages containing 20 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry
The first seizure took place on Friday, Feb. 12, at the Gateway International Bridge when a 20-year-old male United States citizen who resides in Weslaco, Texas, applied for entry into the United States through the pedestrian lane and was referred to CBP secondary for further examination. During the examination, CBP officers discovered four packages hidden under the man’s clothing. CBP officers removed the packages, which contained a total of 2.23 pounds of alleged methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $44,533.
The second seizure also occurred on Friday, Feb. 12, at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge, when CBP officers working primary encountered a man as he arrived at the port of entry as the driver of a beige 2003 Ford F-150 pick-up. The man, identified as a 23-year-old Mexican citizen who resides in Matamoros, Mexico, was referred to CBP secondary for further examination after a primary inspection. With the help of a non-intrusive imaging system which detected anomalies within the vehicle and a K-9 unit, CBP officers discovered eight packages hidden within the Ford pick-up. CBP officers removed the packages which contained a total of 20.50 pounds of alleged cocaine with an estimated street value of $158,100.
The third seizure took place on Sunday, Feb. 14, at the Los Indios International Bridge when a 27-year-old male Mexican citizen who resides in El Control, Tamaulipas, Mexico, attempted entry into the United States, and was referred to CBP secondary for further examination. During the examination, CBP officers discovered two packages hidden under the man’s clothing. CBP officers removed the packages, which contained a total of 3.57 pounds of alleged methamphetamine with an estimated street value o$71,429.
The combined estimated street value of the narcotics from these seizures is approximately $274,062.
CBP officers seized the narcotics along with the vehicle, arrested the driver and body carriers, and turned them over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.
