Nearly $500K worth of cocaine seized at Brownsville Port of Entry

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the first stop on February 7 at the B&M International Bridge. Officers seized the contents from a 50-year-old man, who was a United States citizen, driving a 2019 GMC SUV. The vehicle was referred to the secondary inspection area for further examination after a primary inspection. 

Upon inspection, officers discovered six packages hidden within the vehicle, according to the release. The total packages removed contained a total of 14.37 pounds of alleged cocaine.

On the same day, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized a total of 20.01 pounds of alleged cocaine during an inspection at Veterans International Bridge. Officials seized the contents from a 25-year-old man, also a United States citizen, driving a 2009 Dodge, according to the release. The alleged cocaine was discovered in nine packages hidden within the vehicle.

In addition to seizing the narcotics, officials arrested the drivers and turned them over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation. Officials did not release the identities of the drivers.

Michael B. Reyes, the port director for the Brownsville Port of Entry, stated that the back-to-back cocaine seizures illustrate the “gravity of the narcotics threat” the frontline U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers face every day. He added their determination to keep the border safe and uphold the agency’s priority border security mission.