U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize $600,000 in Heroin at Brownsville Port of Entry

Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge on Tuesday discovered heroin valued at approximately $600,000 concealed in a Chevrolet Cavalier and arrested the driver.

On Tuesday, March 1, CBP officers at the Gateway International Bridge encountered a man later identified as an 18-year-old U.S. citizen who resides in Brownsville, Texas driving a white 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier. After a primary inspection by CBP officers, the male driver and the vehicle he was driving were referred to secondary for further examination. CBP officers in secondary discovered nine bundles hidden within the Cavalier containing approximately 2.72 kilograms (six pounds) of alleged heroin.

The alleged heroin from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $600,000. CBP officers turned the man over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle.

"Using our high tech tools, a primary CBP officer's inspection resulted in the discovery of this load of dangerous narcotics. My hat is off to our CBP officers for the work they do each day to keep us safe and for diligently working to keep drugs out of our country," said Michael Freeman, CBP port director, Brownsville.