BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge intercepted a load of alleged methamphetamine and cocaine. CBP officers discovered the alleged narcotics, valued at approximately $921,500, hidden within a Ford F-150.
On January 7, CBP officers working primary inspections at Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge encountered a 2008 Ford F-150 driven by a man. A CBP officer's primary examination resulted in the vehicle, its driver, identified as a 35-year-old and his passenger identified as a 31-year-old, both United States citizens and residents of Weslaco, Texas being referred to CBP secondary for further examination. While in secondary, CBP officers discovered 28 hidden packages within the Ford's body. CBP officers removed the packages from the vehicle which held a combined total weight of 21.08 kilograms (20.7 pounds) of alleged methamphetamine and 3.18 kilograms (7 pounds) of alleged cocaine.
The alleged methamphetamine from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $697,500 and the alleged cocaine has an estimated street value of approximately $224,000. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle and turned the men over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.
"CBP officers have stopped 25 packages with alleged methamphetamine and three packages with alleged cocaine that will not reach the streets of the Rio Grande Valley," said Michael T. Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville. "I applaud our officers' vigilance on the frontline as they continue to keep our homeland safe from would-be smugglers and their dangerous drugs."
