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  4. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize $336,000 in Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize $336,000 in Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry

Release Date
Mon, 07/23/2012

Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge on Saturday discovered alleged cocaine valued at approximately $336,000 concealed within a Chevrolet Cavalier.

On Saturday, July 21, CBP officers at the Gateway International Bridge came in contact with a man driving a white 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier as he approached CBP primary booths for a primary inspection. The driver, identified as a 70-year-old male citizen of Mexico who resides in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico was escorted to secondary for further inspection. Examination by CBP officers in secondary resulted in the discovery of four concealed packages within the Cavalier. CBP officers removed the packages from the vehicle which had a combined total weight of 4.77 kilograms (10.5 pounds) of alleged cocaine.

The alleged cocaine from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $336,000. CBP officers turned the man over to U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle.

"In a continued effort to prevent dangerous narcotics from entering the United States, CBP officers used their training in the detection of this load of drugs. I commend our CBP officers for their vigilance and for the great job they do every day," said Michael Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021