An alleged cocaine haul with a street value of about $675,850 was intercepted at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers last Saturday, federal officials said. The narcotics were concealed within a 2015 Chevrolet driven by a 21-year-old woman from Dallas, Texas, a U.S. citizen attempting to enter the United States.
Following a primary inspection, the vehicle was referred to a secondary examination where CBP officers, assisted by a canine unit and a non-intrusive inspection system, discovered 22 packages secretly stashed away. The 50.61 pounds of alleged cocaine were meant to slip through, but the unwavering diligence of CBP officers foiled the attempt, according to a statement on the official CBP website. "Our CBP officers’ unwavering diligence and dedication to keep our borders secure produced this significant seizure and our communities are safer for their efforts," said Port Director Tater Ortiz.
The narcotics, along with the vehicle, were seized by CBP officers. The driver was arrested and Homeland Security Investigations special agents have swiftly moved to initiate a criminal investigation.
