Customs and Border Protection Seizes $119,000 in Marijuana at Texas Port of Entry

Brownsville, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville, Texas port of entry this weekend intercepted two loads of alleged narcotics in two separate enforcement actions. CBP officers discovered alleged marijuana valued at approximately $119,400 hidden within two separate vehicles at two international bridges within the Brownsville Port of Entry.

The first seizure occurred early Friday at Gateway International Bridge when a CBP officer at primary inspection examined a dark green Dodge Grand Caravan. The CBP officer’s primary inspection resulted in the vehicle and its driver, a man identified as a 21-year-old Mexico citizen who resides in Heroica Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico being referred to CBP secondary for further examination. At secondary, CBP officers discovered hidden packages within the Dodge Grand Caravan. CBP officers removed a total of 29 packages from the vehicle with a combined total weight of approximately 26.88 kilograms (59.3 pounds) of alleged marijuana.

The alleged marijuana from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $59,300.

The second seizure occurred on Sunday at the Los Indios International Bridge when a CBP officer working at primary came in contact with a white 1989 Ford Ranger. The CBP officer at primary inspection referred the Ford, driven by man identified as a 20-year-old Mexico citizen who resides in Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, Mexico for a secondary examination. At CBP secondary, officers discovered hidden packages within the Ranger. CBP officers removed a total of 39 packages of alleged marijuana from within the vehicle. A total combined weight of 27.26 kilograms (60.1 pounds) of alleged marijuana was extracted from the Ford.

The alleged marijuana from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $60,100.

In both cases CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicles and turned the drivers over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.

“Brownsville’s CBP officers have stopped two alleged loads of narcotics from entering the country at our borders. I commend our officers for a job well done in these two seizures,” said Michael Freeman, CBP port director, Brownsville.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.