June 10, 2013
Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Brownsville International Bridges intercepted two loads of alleged marijuana and cocaine. CBP officers discovered the alleged narcotics, valued at approximately $1,279,900 hidden within a Chevrolet Suburban and a Mitsubishi Eclipse GT.
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The first of the two cases occurred on Friday, June 7, when CBP officers working primary at Los Indios International Bridge encountered a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban driven by a woman. A CBP officer’s primary examination resulted in the vehicle, its driver, identified as a 20-year-old United States citizen and residents of San Benito, Texas being referred to CBP secondary for further examination. While in secondary, CBP officers discovered 44 hidden packages within the Chevrolet’s gas tank and tires. CBP officers removed the packages from the vehicle which held a combined total weight of 87.04 kilograms (191.9 pounds) of alleged marijuana
The second case took place on Saturday at the Gateway International Bridge. CBP officers working northbound inspections came in contact with a man as he arrived at the port of entry as the driver of a gray 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The man, identified as a 31-year-old, Mexican citizen who resides in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico was selected and escorted to a secondary inspection. In secondary CBP officers discovered 14 packages hidden within the Eclipse. CBP officers removed the packages which held a combined total weight of 15.42 kilograms (34 pounds) of alleged cocaine.
The alleged marijuana from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $191,900 and the alleged cocaine has an estimated street value of approximately $1,088,000. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle and turned the woman and the man over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.
“Every day of the week our CBP officers man the frontlines in an effort to stop those that would try to do our country harm. Our officers stopped these two loads of alleged marijuana and cocaine that thanks to their efforts will not reach the streets of the Rio Grande Valley. I applaud our officers for their outstanding work on the frontline,” said Michael T. Freeman, CBP port director, Brownsville.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/06102013_5.xml
Mexican Drug Cartels, Violence and Drug Trafficking across the US-Mexico Border 