U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Over $627,000 in Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry

Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge discovered cocaine valued at $627,200 hidden within a Chevrolet pickup.

On Friday, at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge, CBP officers encountered a blue 1999 Chevrolet pickup being driven by a 20-year-old man, identified as a United States citizen and resident of Brownsville. After a primary inspection, a CBP officer referred the Chevrolet for further examination. CBP officers discovered seven packages hidden within the pickup. CBP officers removed the packages containing approximately 19.6 pounds of cocaine.

The cocaine from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $627,200. CBP officers turned the driver over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle.

“Outstanding work by our frontline CBP officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge resulted in the seizure of this load of alleged cocaine at the border. I applaud our officers for their vigilance and for the arrest of this would-be smuggler,” said Michael Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville Port of Entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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.