06/16/2010

News / CBP Officers Seize More Than $400,000 in Black Tar Heroin and Marijuana at Brownsville Port of Entry

Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Gateway and Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridges seized black tar heroin and marijuana valued at approximately $412,300 in three separate enforcement actions.

The first seizure took place on Sunday, June 13, at the Gateway International Bridge. A CBP officer’s primary inspection of a green 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 resulted in the driver, a 37-year-old male Mexican citizen, and his wife, a 33-year-old Mexican citizen, both from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and their vehicle being referred to secondary inspection.

At secondary, CBP officers’ examination of the Dodge revealed several packages concealed within the floor of the Ram 2500. CBP officers removed 25 packages from the vehicle with a combined weight of 26.99 kilograms, or 59.5 pounds, of marijuana.

The second case at Gateway International Bridge also occurred on June 13. A primary CBP officer working the pedestrian lane encountered a male, identified as a 24-year-old Mexican citizen from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The CBP officer’s primary examination of the male led to the possibility that the male subject may be hiding contraband within his shoes.

The primary CBP officer escorted the pedestrian to secondary for further inspection. While in secondary, a CBP officer’s inspection revealed a single package within each shoe which was determined to contain black tar heroin. The packages weighted a combined total of .89 kilograms - approximately 2 pounds.

The third case occurred on June 14 at Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge, when a primary CBP officer noticed discrepancies to a vehicle he was inspecting. The driver, a 42-year-old Mexican citizen who resides in San Juan, Texas and his vehicle were referred to secondary for further examination.

At CBP secondary, a complete inspection of the white GMC Safari van resulted in the discovery of two metal containers within the gas tank. CBP officers discovered 69.3 kilograms, or 152.8 pounds, of marijuana within the containers.

The black tar heroin and marijuana from these seizures has an estimated street value of approximately $412,300. CBP officers turned the narcotics, drivers, passenger and the vehicles over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents for further investigation.

“Brownsville’s CBP officers have intercepted these loads of dangerous narcotics with an estimated street value of over $400,000. I applaud our officers for the tremendous job they do in keeping these drugs out of our country and keeping us safe,” said Michael Freeman, CBP port director for the Brownsville port of entry.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/06152010.xml

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