It was a significant bust at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized a hefty haul of cocaine over the weekend. As confirmed by an official CBP press release, more than $815,000 worth of the drug was uncovered, secreted away in a vehicle that was subjected to a meticulous examination. "Our frontline CBP officers utilized an effective combination of inspection skill, training, experience and technology and seized a significant amount of cocaine," Port Director Pete Beattie told the press. He further underscored the gravity of drug threats and the need for stringent border security measures.
The discovery unfolded on September 22 at the Eagle Pass International Bridge. CBP officers flagged a 2016 Ford Explorer for further inspection. Driven by a 24-year-old Mexican citizen, the vehicle housed 32 packages weighing in at a total of 61 pounds of alleged cocaine, carefully hidden within its compartments. Aided by a nonintrusive inspection system and the keen senses of CBP canines, the contraband, estimated to street for about $815,377, didn't slip past the officers.
Resulting from the search, the narcotics were promptly seized, and the driver found himself under arrest. Homeland Security Investigations special agents have now taken over, launching a criminal investigation to dig deeper into this smuggling attempt.
