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  4. CBP Officers Seize $211K Worth of Cocaine at Veterans International Bridge

CBP Officers Seize $211K Worth of Cocaine at Veterans International Bridge

Release Date
Tue, 09/13/2022

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Veterans International Bridge intercepted a load of alleged cocaine valued at approximately $211,203 hidden within a 2008 Ford.

“Our officers use multiple law enforcement tools to keep dangerous narcotics from entering our country and their effective implementation led to this drug seizure,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry.

Packages containing nearly 16 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry.
Packages containing nearly 16 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry.

The seizure took place on Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Veterans International Bridge when a 19-year-old male United States citizen who resides in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, attempted entry into the United States driving a 2008 Ford. The vehicle was referred to CBP secondary for further examination after a primary inspection. While in the secondary inspection area, with the aid of a non-intrusive inspection system (NII) and a canine unit, CBP officers discovered seven packages hidden within the vehicle. CBP officers removed the packages which contained a total of 15.82 pounds of alleged cocaine.

The estimated street value of the cocaine from the seizure is approximately $211,203.

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.

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

Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on Twitter at@DFOLaredoand also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at@CBPSouthTexasfor breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.

Last Modified: Sep 13, 2022