BROWNSVILLE, Texas—Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville arrested two persons from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico in connection with two separate, unrelated incidents involving seizures of alleged cocaine.
Bundles containing 12.39 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Gateway Bridge, one of two significant hard narcotics interceptions occurring at Brownsville Port of Entry this week
“Our officers' continued vigilance and perseverance is evident by the detection of these two small but significant interceptions of hard narcotics,” said Port Director Petra Horne, Brownsville Port of Entry. “These interceptions are excellent examples of how our officers continue to use their experience, knowledge, and all available resources to detect and interdict the flow of illegal narcotics."
The first incident occurred on May 12 at the Gateway International Bridge after CBP officers encountered and referred a 36-year-old female Mexican citizen driving a blue 2008 Ford Edge for a secondary inspection. During the course of the examination, officers discovered and seized four packages of alleged cocaine weighing approximately 9.7 pounds, which have an estimated street value of $74,800 and also seized the vehicle.
On May 14, at the same border crossing, CBP officers referred a beige 2001 Lincoln LS driven by a 30-year-old male Mexican citizen for further inspection. While examining the vehicle in secondary, officers discovered five packages of alleged cocaine with an estimated weight of 12.39 pounds. CBP OFO seized the narcotics valued at approximately $95,540 and seized the Lincoln as well.
CBP OFO arrested both persons who were ultimately released to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for further investigation.