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Federal agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently seized $3.3 million worth of cocaine in what they referred to on social media as a South Texas “snow” storm. The drugs that a smuggler was attempting to being into the United States were discovered at the Brownsville Port of Entry.
The massive cocaine seizure occurred on Sunday, Dec. 15 at the Veterans International Bridge in Brownsville, Texas. It happened after CBP officers referred a 2012 Ford hauling a utility trailer driven by a 50-year-old male for further examination after a primary inspection.
During the secondary inspection, federal agents, with the assistance of a CBP canine unit and using a non-intrusive inspection system (NII), discovered 100 packages hidden within the vehicle. After removing the packages, the officers learned they contained 245.50 pounds of alleged cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately $3,336,864.
South Texas “snow” storm: @DFOLaredo @CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry seize $3.3M in cocaine in vehicle hauling utility trailer. Driver, passenger arrested. @HSI_SanAntonio is investigating. Read more here: https://t.co/8D1vJ5HY2g pic.twitter.com/OoRrjOP1Vr
— CBP South Texas (@CBPSouthTexas) December 17, 2024
“This is a significant amount of cocaine intercepted by our frontline CBP officers and the enforcement action underscores the seriousness of the drug threat we face and the resolve of our officers to apply their training, experience and technology to prevent it from reaching U.S. streets,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry.
The illegal narcotics along with the vehicle were taken into possession by CBP officers. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested the driver of the 2012 Ford, along with a passenger, and began a criminal investigation.
This large drug smuggling bust came on the heels of another significant arrest that was made by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at the International Bridge in Hidalgo, Texas on Dec. 13.
It was there that agents with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at Hidalgo Port of Entry, seized over $4.2 worth of illegal narcotics that was trying to be smuggled into the United States by a single person driving a 2013 Chrysler van.
A few days before that, on Dec.9, CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in Texas seized a whopping $7.5 million worth of meth that was concealed in a semi-trailer hauling the vegetable jicama, AKA Mexican turnips.