BROWNSVILLE, TX — U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that border officers have seized more than $1.4 million worth of cocaine in two separate busts at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge on Friday, January 24.
In a press release from the U.S. CBP, a 22-year-old woman from McAllen, Texas, was stopped while driving a 2008 Toyota. After a routine inspection, officers referred her vehicle for a more thorough check.
With the help of a K9 unit, they found 40 packages of suspected cocaine hidden inside the vehicle. The total weight reached over 91 pounds, with an estimated street value of $1.22 million.
Over 91 pounds of seized cocaine at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge
(Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
Later that day, a 27-year-old man from Matamoros, Mexico, was stopped at the same bridge driving a 2014 Chevrolet. After officers also inspected the vehicle, they discovered a package containing nearly 16 pounds of cocaine. This find had an estimated street value of about $211,350, according to the release.
Both drivers were arrested, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is now handling the criminal cases. CBP also seized the drugs and the vehicles.
The two separate enforcement actions are estimated to total $1,432,355 worth of narcotics.
"Our officers work hard every day to keep our borders safe and secure," said Tater Ortiz, the port director at the Brownsville Port of Entry. "These seizures show how effective our efforts are in stopping illegal drugs from entering the U.S."
This latest drug seizure follows another big seizure last month in Laredo, Texas, where officers found more than 750 pounds of methamphetamine worth nearly $7 million.
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