BROWNSVILLE, Texas—Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Brownsville International Bridges seized close to $1.5 million in narcotics and arrested four persons in connection with the failed smuggling attempts.
“Most of these interceptions, although relatively small in quantity are still significant in CBP Field Operation’s efforts to help keep dangerous drugs from crossing our international borders,” said Port Director Petra Horne, Brownsville Port of Entry.
Bundles containing 16 pounds of cocaine, one of three significant narcotics seizures realized by CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry
The first seizure occurred on Dec. 5, when CBP officers working at the Brownsville Veterans International Bridge came in contact with a blue 2002 Ford Explorer Sport. The 29-year-old male driver, a U.S. citizen from Brownsville was referred to secondary where officers discovered and seized 24 packages of alleged marijuana weighing approximately 109.39 pounds and carrying an estimated street value of $109,000.
On the same date at the Gateway International Bridge, CBP officers encountered a blue 2009 Mazda M6 driven by a 23-year-old male U.S. citizen, also from Brownsville. Officers referred him and the vehicle to secondary and subsequently discovered five packages of alleged cocaine hidden within the Mazda. CBP seized the 10.05 pounds of cocaine that is estimated at $322,000 in street value.
On Dec. 6, CBP officers working at the Brownsville-Matamoros (B&M) International Bridge referred a black 2007 Ford Expedition driven by a 30-year-old female U.S. citizen from Brownsville for a secondary inspection. During the examination, officers discovered and seized six packages of alleged cocaine weighing approximately 16.14 pounds with an estimated value of $517,000.
The last interception occurred on Dec. 8 after CBP officers working at the Gateway International Bridge referred a 24-year-old female Mexican citizen from Matamoros, Tamaulipas for a secondary inspection. In secondary, officers located and seized six packages of alleged cocaine which weighed 14.38 pounds and carried an estimated value of $460,000.
CBP Field Operations arrested the four travelers who were then released to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for further investigation. CBP seized all the vehicles involved in the failed smuggling attempts as well.
CBP’s Brownsville Port of Entry is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.