10/08/2009

News / CBP Officers Seize $372,000 in Cocaine, Methamphetamine at Brownsville Port of Entry

Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Gateway International Bridge discovered more than $372,000 in cocaine and methamphetamine hidden in a man-made compartment in the rear bumper of a Saturn SC2; one male U.S. citizen was arrested.


On Wednesday, October 7, at the Gateway International Bridge, CBP officers referred a green 1997 Saturn SC2 driven by Edgar Eli Mendoza, a 22-year-old U.S. citizen and resident of Brownsville, Texas for a secondary inspection. In secondary, CBP officers found discrepancies to the rear bumper of the vehicle. CBP officers’ examination of the Saturn revealed a man-made compartment within the bumper of the SC2. “Sysco,” a narcotic detector dog, further alerted officers to the odor of narcotics emanating from the compartment.

An intensive inspection of the Saturn by CBP officers revealed seven packages of narcotics. Four packages were found to contain a total of nearly 10 pounds of cocaine, the remaining three packages held just under four pounds of methamphetamine.


The cocaine and methamphetamines from this seizure has an estimated street value of over $372,000. The driver was arrested by CBP officers and turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents who investigated the seizure and processed the driver on federal drug charges.


“When you think you have seen it all, Brownsville’s CBP officers find another place would-be smugglers are trying to use to bring in their narcotics. This interception of cocaine is another example of how our officers’ vigilance and training continue to benefit us all. This discovery was great work by our officers,” said Michael Freeman, CBP port director, Brownsville.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/10082009_5.xml

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