BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge intercepted a load of alleged cocaine. CBP officers discovered the alleged cocaine, valued at approximately $774,400, hidden within a Toyota Camry.
"This is another load of dangerous drugs that will not get to the streets of our communities in large part thanks to the great work by our CBP officers working at our nations' borders. I applaud our officers for the outstanding work they do for us all," said Michael T. Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville.
On October 22, 2013 CBP officers working primary at Gateway International Bridge encountered a white 2012 Toyota Camry being driven by a woman and accompanied by a minor child. A CBP officer's primary examination resulted in the vehicle, its female driver, identified as a 28-year-old and her three-year-old daughter, both Mexican citizens who reside in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico being referred to CBP secondary for further examination. While in secondary, CBP officers discovered 10 hidden packages within the Toyota. CBP officers removed the packages from the vehicle which held a combined total weight of 10.96 kilograms (24.2 pounds) of alleged cocaine.
The alleged cocaine from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $774,400. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle and turned the driver over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation. The driver's daughter was returned to family members in Mexico.