Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge seized marijuana valued at approximately $180,600 concealed within a Chevrolet van.
On Friday, July 23 at the Gateway International Bridge, a CBP officers' primary inspection of a white 1995 Chevrolet van resulted a referral for a secondary examination. The vehicle's driver is identified as a 30-year-old female who was accompanied by her minor child and are both United States citizen who reside in Brownsville, Texas. While in secondary, further examination of the Chevrolet by CBP officers resulted in the discovery of two tightly compressed packages of marijuana from within the van's gas tank. CBP officers removed the two large packages from the vehicle which had a combined total weight of 81.90 kilograms (180.6 pounds) of marijuana.
The marijuana from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $180,600. CBP officers turned the driver over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle. The driver's minor child passenger was turned over to a family member not involved in the seizure.
"Our CBP officers on the frontline have once again stopped a load of marijuana from entering our country. The work our officers accomplish each day is a tribute to the underlying pride they each have in the performance of their critical duties. I commend our officers for a job well done in this marijuana interception," said Michael Freeman, CBP port director, Brownsville.