U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry, carried out a significant drug seizure by intercepting over $491,000 in cocaine. The drugs were hidden in a passenger vehicle and discovered by officers.
On April 2, during routine checks at the Camino Real International Bridge, CBP officers directed a 2014 Ford pickup truck, driven by a 57-year-old woman from Mexico, for further examination. Using a combination of nonintrusive inspection equipment and a canine team, officers found 16 packages containing a total of 36.81 pounds (16.70 kg) of cocaine within the vehicle. The estimated street value of the cocaine is placed at $491,581.
Port Director Pete Beattie of the Eagle Pass Port of Entry commented on the seizure, saying, "Our frontline CBP officers applied their inspection skills, training and technology and seized a compact but significant amount of cocaine. Seizures like these reinforce CBP’s border security mission and aptly illustrate that attempts to bring in controlled substances can result in serious criminal consequences."
Following the discovery, CBP OFO took possession of both the narcotics and the vehicle. Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested the vehicle's driver and commenced an investigation into the incident.
For updates, news, and further stories, the public can follow CBP's Laredo Field Office on social media platforms, including X and Instagram. U.S. Customs and Border Protection remains dedicated to serving as America's foremost border security agency, employing a force of over 65,000 personnel to maintain the safety of the nation's borders through land, air, and sea.
