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  4. Brownsville CBP Officers Seize $519K Worth of Cocaine in Two Seizures at the Gateway International Bridge

Brownsville CBP Officers Seize $519K Worth of Cocaine in Two Seizures at the Gateway International Bridge

Release Date
Wed, 08/05/2020

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge intercepted alleged narcotics with a combined estimated street value of $519,180 in two separate enforcement actions.

“As these two seizures illustrate, CBP continues to experience an ongoing hard narcotics threat and CBP maintains a robust enforcement posture and continues to interdict these loads,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry

Packages containing 33.82 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry
Packages containing 33.82 pounds of cocaine seized by
CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry.

The first seizure took place on Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Gateway International Bridge when a 52-year-old male Mexican citizen applied for entry into the United States driving a green 2003 Ford Expedition.  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) and a canine unit, CBP officers discovered 14 packages hidden within the Ford Expedition.  CBP officers removed the packages, which contained a total of 33.82 pounds of alleged cocaine.

The second seizure took place on Monday, Aug. 3, also at the Gateway International Bridge when a 29-year-old female United States citizen applied for entry into the United States driving a gold colored 2008 Dodge Journey.  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) and a canine unit, CBP officers discovered 14 packages hidden within the Dodge Journey.  CBP officers removed the packages, which contained a total of 33.51 pounds of alleged cocaine.

The estimated street value of the narcotics from the seizures is approximately $260,780 and $258,400 respectively.

CBP officers seized the narcotics along with the vehicles, arrested the drivers and turned them over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.

For more information about CBP, please click on the attached link.

Packages containing 33.51 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry
Packages containing 33.51 pounds of cocaine seized by
CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry.

 

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021