Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers had another busy weekend at the Brownsville port of entry, seizing close to 28 pounds of cocaine and more than 75 pounds of marijuana; two women and one man were arrested in connection with these enforcement actions. The seized narcotics had a combined estimated street value of almost $1.2 million.
The first of two cocaine seizures occurred on January 16, at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2002 Chrysler Sebring driven a 24 year-old female Mexican citizen and resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico for a secondary inspection. In secondary, "Misha," a narcotic detector dog, alerted officers to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle. CBP officers' meticulous examination of the Chrysler revealed inconsistencies to the dash area. An intensified examination of the vehicle revealed a total of nine packages hidden within the dash area of the vehicle. The nine packages of cocaine had a combined weight of more than 22 pounds. The cocaine from this seizure has an estimated street value of almost $717,000.
The second cocaine seizure also occurred on January 16. CBP officers at the Gateway International Bridge seized more than 12 pounds of narcotics hidden in the rear quarter panels of a 2003 Ford Expedition driven by a 26-year-old United States citizen from Brownsville, Texas. "Franklin," a narcotic detector dog, alerted officers to the odor of narcotics emanating from the Ford. CBP officers extracted five packages from the SUV with a total weight of more than 12 pounds of cocaine. The cocaine from this seizure has an estimated street value of more than $387,000.
The next seizure, a load of marijuana took place on January 18, at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge. CBP officers seized more than 75 pounds of marijuana hidden within the rear walls of a 1991 Dodge Caravan driven by a 25-year-old Mexican female from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville, Texas. A primary CBP officer referred the white van to secondary for a closer inspection of the Dodge by CBP officers revealed 37 packages of marijuana. The marijuana from this enforcement action has an estimated street value of more than $75,000.
CBP officers arrested all three drivers in each of these attempted narcotics' smuggling cases and turned them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents who investigated the seizures. The two women and one man could face federal drug charges.
"CBP officers in Brownsville continue to utilize their keen observational skills in intercepting dangerous drugs. It is their devotion to our mission that exemplifies their pride in the work they do in the protection of our country," said Michael Freeman, CBP port director at the Brownsville port of entry.