Brownsville CBP Officers Seize Close to $1 Million in Cocaine, Marijuana

A vehicle's tires in Brownsville contain 82 pounds of marijuana. Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers attentiveness over the weekend at the Brownsville port of entry led to the discovery and seizure of close to $1 million in cocaine and marijuana in two significant enforcement actions. The first, a marijuana seizure, occurred at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Los Indios International Bridge. An alert CBP officer referred a red 1997 GMC Suburban driven by Braulio Anaya, a 20-year-old male U.S. citizen and resident of Alton, Texas for a secondary inspection. During the examination, CBP officers discovered discrepancies to the tires of the GMC Suburban. An imaging system scan indicated anomalies within the tires. An intensive examination of the Suburban by CBP officers revealed 24 packages containing a total of more than 82 pounds of marijuana hidden within the tires of the GMC Suburban. The marijuana from this enforcement action has an estimated street value of over $82,000. The driver was arrested by CBP officers and turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents who continue to investigate the seizure and processed the driver on federal drug charges. The second, a cocaine seizure, occurred on Sunday, at Gateway International Bridge. CBP officers referred a tan 2004 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Maria Del Carmen Martinez, a 47-year-old U.S. citizen and passenger Rosalinda Martin Gutierrez, a 45-year-old U.S. citizen, both residents of Brownsville, Texas for a secondary inspection. During the examination, CBP officers noted discrepancies to the dash area of the Chevrolet Malibu. Diego, a narcotic detector dog, alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle. Further examination by CBP officers of the Malibu resulted in the discovery of 18 packages containing a total of more than 27 pounds of cocaine concealed within dash area of the Chevrolet Malibu. The cocaine from this seizure has an estimated street value of over $867,000. The driver and passenger were arrested by CBP officers and turned over to the custody of ICE special agents who continue to investigate the seizure and processed the driver and passenger on federal drug charges.