U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Los Indios International Bridge cargo lot in Brownsville, Texas, seized over $297,000 worth of alleged cocaine concealed inside a tractor trailer. The incident occurred on August 18, when officers referred the vehicle for further inspection after detecting irregularities during a nonintrusive imaging system scan.
During the secondary examination, CBP officers used a canine unit to assist in the search and discovered nine packages hidden within the tractor trailer. The packages contained a total of 22.3 pounds of alleged cocaine.
Port Director Tater Ortiz commented on the seizure: “Regardless of the mode of transportation, our officers remain vigilant in the performance of their duties. Their efforts led to this significant drug seizure, keeping it from reaching our streets and communities.”
The narcotics and vehicle were confiscated by CBP officers. Homeland Security Investigations special agents have started a criminal investigation into the case.
CBP describes itself as America’s largest law enforcement organization and states that its personnel are responsible for protecting U.S. borders across land, air, and sea while enforcing laws related to travel and trade.
For updates on CBP activities in South Texas, information is available through official social media channels including X (@DFOLaredo) and Instagram (@dfolaredo).
