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  4. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Nearly $461,000 in Methamphetamine and Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Nearly $461,000 in Methamphetamine and Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry

Release Date
Thu, 10/30/2014

Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville Port of Entry intercepted two loads of alleged narcotics in 24 hours. CBP officers discovered the alleged drugs, carrying a combined street value of nearly $461,000, hidden under the clothing of a pedestrian and within a Saturn L300.

“Brownsville’s CBP officers conducting primary inspections of travelers in the pedestrian lanes stopped the first alleged load of methamphetamine and a vigilant officer in the second alleged load discovered two packages hidden within a vehicle. I congratulate our CBP officers for these seizures and arrests,” said Port Director Petra Horne, Brownsville Port of Entry.  

bundles containing 9.2 pounds of methamphetamine seized by CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry

Bundles containing 9.2 pounds of methamphetamine seized by CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry.

The first case took place on Wednesday, Oct 29, CBP officers working primary at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge encountered a woman as she arrived at the port of entry as a pedestrian. The woman, identified as a 36-year-old Mexican citizen who resides in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico was referred to CBP secondary for further examination. CBP officers working in secondary discovered three packages hidden under the woman’s clothing. CBP officers removed the packages which contained a total of 9.2 pounds of alleged methamphetamine.

A second smuggling attempt also occurred on Wednesday when CBP officers working primary at the Gateway International Bridge encountered a silver Saturn L300 being driven by a woman. A CBP officer’s primary examination resulted in the vehicle, its driver, identified as a 44-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 2003 Saturn. CBP officers removed the packages from the vehicle which held a combined total weight of 5.2 pounds of alleged cocaine.

The estimated street value of the narcotics from these seizures is approximately $294,400 and $166,400, respectively. In both cases, CBP officers seized the narcotics. CBP officers also seized the vehicle in the second case. CBP officers arrested both women and turned them over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation.

CBP Field Operations at Brownsville Port of Entry is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.

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