BROWNSVILLE, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Brownsville Port of Entry this weekend seized $182,000 in fentanyl within a passenger vehicle during a routine examination.
“Our frontline officers employed an effective combination of inspections experience, technology, high tech tools which contributed to a significant seizure of fentanyl in the passenger vehicle environment,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry.
within a passenger vehicle at Brownsville Port of Entry
The seizure took place on Friday, Aug. 13, at Veterans International Bridge when a 50-year-old male United States citizen from Brownsville, Texas, applied for entry into the United States driving a 2007 Ford. The vehicle was referred to CBP secondary for further examination after a primary inspection. In secondary, with the aid of a non-intrusive imaging system (NII), CBP officers discovered five packages which contained a total of 13.44 pounds of alleged fentanyl hidden within the 2007 Ford. CBP officers removed the packages.
The estimated street value of the narcotics from the seizure is approximately $182,905.
CBP officers seized the narcotics along with the vehicle, arrested the driver and turned him over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.
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