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  4. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Nearly $250,000 In Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Nearly $250,000 In Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry

Release Date
Fri, 03/21/2014

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge intercepted two loads of alleged cocaine. CBP officers discovered the alleged narcotics, valued at approximately $249,600, hidden under the clothing of a pedestrian and hidden within a Lincoln LS.

“These two alleged loads of narcotics were stopped as a direct result of the outstanding work by our CBP officers working at our nation’s front door. I applaud our CBP officers’ commitment and dedication with these outstanding interceptions and arrests,” said Michael Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville.

On Thursday, March 20, 2014 CBP officers working pedestrian primary at Gateway International Bridge encountered a man as he arrived and applied for admission into the United States. A CBP officer’s primary examination resulted in the man, identified as a 19-year-old Mexican citizen who resides in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico being referred to CBP secondary for further examination. While in secondary, CBP officers discovered a single package hidden under the traveler’s clothing. CBP officers removed the packages which held a total weight of 1.15 kilograms (2.5 pounds) of alleged cocaine.

A second smuggling attempt also occurred on Thursday when CBP officers working primary at Gateway International Bridge encountered a 2000 Lincoln LS being driven by a man. A CBP officer’s primary examination resulted in the vehicle, its driver, identified as a 23-year-old United States citizen who resides in Brownsville, Texas being referred to CBP secondary for further examination. While in secondary, CBP officers discovered two hidden packages within the Lincoln. CBP officers removed the two packages from the vehicle which held a combined total weight of 2.39 kilograms (5.3 pounds) of alleged cocaine.

The alleged cocaine from these seizures has an estimated street value of approximately $80,000 and $169,600 respectively. In both cases CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle from the second case and turned the men over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.

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