Brownsville, Texas - Over the weekend, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and Border Patrol agents working outbound enforcement operations at the Gateway International Bridge’s southbound lanes seized five assault rifles, two semi-automatic handguns and 12 high-capacity magazines and more than $726,000 in cocaine in two separate enforcement actions.
On Friday, May 13, CBP officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge intercepted a man driving a red 2007 Ford Fusion as he approached the primary inspection station. The driver, identified as a 20-year-old female Mexican citizen who resides in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico was escorted to secondary for further inspection. In CBP secondary officer discovered undeclared packages hidden within the Ford. Examination by CBP officers revealed 11 concealed packages within the Ford Fusion. CBP officers removed the packages from the vehicle which had a combined total weight of 10.30 kilograms (22.7 pounds) of alleged cocaine.
The alleged cocaine from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $726,400.
On May 14, CBP officers and Border Patrol agents working outbound enforcement operations at the Gateway International Bridge encountered a tan 2003 Ford Taurus as it attempted to exit the U.S. to enter Mexico. The driver, identified as a 25-year-old male U.S. citizen and resident of Okeechobee, Florida was referred to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, further inspection by CBP officers and agents resulted in the discovery of five assault type rifles, two semi-automatic handguns and 12 high-capacity magazines hidden within the Ford.
In both cases CBP officers turned the drivers over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the weapons, narcotics and vehicles.
“This was a busy weekend at the Brownsville port of entry, our CBP officers and agents have stopped these weapons, high-capacity magazines from going into Mexico as well as a substantial load of alleged cocaine from entering our country. I commend our officers and agents for a job well done and for their continued vigilance,” said Port Director, Michael Freeman, Brownsville Port of Entry.
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.
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