Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge seized heroin and cocaine valued at approximately $1,330,400 in two separate enforcement actions over the Father's Day weekend.
The first seizure took place on Saturday, June 19, at the Gateway International Bridge when a 52-year-old U.S. male citizen arrived at the port of entry on his bicycle. The primary CBP officer's examination of the traveler's belongings revealed anomalies in a wooden shelf in the bicycle's basket. The biker was escorted to secondary for further inspection. At secondary, CBP officers' examination of the shelf revealed hidden packages. CBP officers removed six packages with a combined weight of 1.74 kilograms (3.8 pounds) of heroin.
The second case at Gateway International Bridge occurred on June 20, when a primary CBP officer came in contact with a white 1998 Ford Expedition driven by a 19-year-old Mexican citizen from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. A primary inspection of the Ford resulted in the Expedition being referred to secondary for further examination. At secondary, CBP officers discovered packages within the vehicle. A total of 12 packages were removed from the Ford with a combined weighted of 13.47 kilograms (29.7 pounds) of cocaine.
The heroin and cocaine from these seizures has an estimated street value of approximately $1,330,400. CBP officers turned the two men, narcotics, bicycle and the vehicle over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents for further investigation.
"CBP officers seized these narcotics amidst heavy Father's Day weekend traffic. As guardians of our nation's borders, our officers remain alert each day as they protect our homeland. I congratulate our CBP officers for their professionalism and vigilance," said Michael Freeman, CBP port director, Brownsville port of entry.