U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville, Texas, recently intercepted a shipment of cocaine valued at over $551,000. The incident occurred on January 8 when a 29-year-old woman from Mexico arrived at the bridge driving a 2008 Chevrolet.
After an initial inspection, CBP officers referred the vehicle for further examination. With assistance from a canine unit and nonintrusive inspection technology, officers discovered packages hidden inside the car. These packages contained a total of 41.27 pounds of what is believed to be cocaine.
Port Director Tater Ortiz commented on the seizure: "As this seizure clearly illustrates, our frontline CBP officers work with diligence as they perform their duties and their efforts led to this significant narcotics interception. Enforcement actions like these help keep our communities safe."
The narcotics and the vehicle were seized by CBP officers. The driver was handed over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents, who have begun a criminal investigation into the matter.
CBP describes itself as America's largest law enforcement organization and unified border management agency, responsible for protecting the country’s borders on land, in the air, and at sea. Its mission includes enforcing safe travel and trade while supporting national security through innovation and collaboration.
