U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at the Brownsville Port of Entry in Texas recently intercepted five shipments of narcotics over separate incidents.
The first seizure occurred on Oct. 20 at the port’s Veterans International Bridge when officers encountered a 2010 Toyota Camry driven by a 30-year old male U.S. citizen from Los Fresnos, Texas. After a brief round of questioning, the man was referred for a more thorough, secondary inspection.
Using a narcotics-detection canine unit, the officers soon discovered seven plastic-wrapped packages hidden inside the vehicle, which tested positive for cocaine. Weighing a combined total of 14.95 pounds, the narcotics carried an estimated street value of $115,260.
A few hours later, a 2002 Hyundai Accent sedan driven by a 37-year old male Mexican citizen approached the port’s Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge for inspection. After being referred for a secondary inspection, the officers discovered three packages of cocaine hidden within the vehicle. The packages weighed a combined 7.54 pounds and carried an estimated street value of $58,140.
Later that same day, officers assigned to the same bridge encountered a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox SUV driven by a 53-year old male Mexican citizen, who was referred for a secondary inspection. Using a non-intrusive imaging system, the officers discovered eight packages hidden within the vehicle, which tested positive for properties of cocaine. The packages weighed a combined 15.17 pounds and carried an estimated street value of $116,960.
Four days later, officers assigned to the port’s Gateway International Bridge referred a 2017 Nissan Versa sedan driven by a 20-year old male U.S. citizen for a secondary inspection. Using a non-intrusive imaging system accompanied by a narcotics-detection canine unit, the officers discovered a total of 13 packages of alleged cocaine, which weighed a total of 33.11 pounds. The narcotics carried an estimated street value of $255,340.
The final seizure occurred later that same day when officers encountered a 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by a 23-year old male Mexican citizen, who was referred for a secondary inspection. Using a non-intrusive imaging system, the officers discovered 13 packages of alleged cocaine, weighing a total of 31.75 pounds. The narcotics carried an estimated street value of $244,800.
“Our officers are doing an outstanding job in intercepting these dangerous narcotics,” Port Director Petra Horne said. “We remain vigilant as we keep our borders secure and keep these narcotics off our streets.”
CBP seized all narcotics along with the vehicles, arrested the drivers, and turned them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations unit for criminal processing.