Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge seized marijuana valued at approximately $149,000 in two separate enforcement actions.
On Thursday, April 21, 2010 at the Gateway International Bridge an officers' primary inspection of a red 2000 Ford Explorer resulted in the male driver a 23-year-old, Mexican citizen and resident of Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, Mexico and the vehicle he was driving being referred to secondary. At secondary, CBP officers' examination of the Ford revealed several packages concealed within the Explorer. Officers removed 25 packages from the vehicle with a combined weight of 31.81 kilograms (70.1 pounds) of marijuana.
A second case at Gateway International Bridge on April 21, 2010 resulted when a primary CBP officer came in contact with a blue 1997 Ford F-150 driven by a 36-year-old female U.S. citizen who resides in Galena Park, Texas. An officer's primary inspection resulted in the Ford and its driver being referred to secondary for further examination. At secondary, CBP officers discovered 24 packages hidden within the tires of the pickup. The 24 packages contained marijuana with a total weight of 35.80 kilograms (78.9 pounds).
The marijuana from these seizures has an estimated street value of approximately $149,000. CBP officers turned the narcotics, the drivers, and the vehicles over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents for further investigation.
"Vigilance by CBP officers at the Brownsville Port of Entry resulted in these discoveries; our officers are doing a outstanding job in securing our borders," said Michael Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville Port of Entry.