U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at the Gateway International Bridge seized a shipment on Friday of alleged heroin hidden within a 2001 Nissan Xterra SUV.
The seizure took place when officers referred a 29-year-old Mexican citizen driving a green 2001 Nissan Xterra SUV for a secondary examination. With the use of a canine unit and non-intrusive imaging system, CBP officers discovered six packages of alleged heroin weighing approximately 11.5 pounds with an estimated street value of $262,000.
“With this seizure, our CBP officers have once again demonstrated their dedication and commitment to the CBP mission,” Petra Horne, port director at the Brownsville Port of Entry, said. “I commend our CBP officers for this outstanding interception of hard narcotics.”
CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle. The driver was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further questioning.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) charged with the management, control and protection of the nation’s border at and between the official ports of entry. The agency is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of laws designed to keep the country safe.