On Monday, January 3, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized nearly eighteen pounds of methamphetamine at the Los Indios International Bridge in Brownsville, Texas.
According to a press release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a 22-year-old man driving a 2003 Ford arrived at the bridge crossing and requested entry into the U.S.
CBP officials inspected the car and then sent the vehicle for a secondary inspection using a “non-intrusive imaging system (NII).” The second search led to the discovery of twenty-eight packages hidden in the vehicle.
The packages contained a total of 17.94 pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $358,908.
CBP agents seized the drugs and the vehicle and turned the driver over to the custody of special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The investigation is ongoing, and the suspect’s identity has not been released at this time.
Port Director of the Brownsville entry, Tater Ortiz, stated, “This narcotics seizure is important and reflects the steadfast commitment of our frontline CBP officers to keep our borders secure and protect our communities.”
Although the find was significant, it represents only a fraction of the illegal drugs that are continuously finding their way across the border. Last August, border officials seized 5,528 pounds of meth and 127 pounds of fentanyl at the Otay Mesa, California Cargo Port of Entry. The drugs were estimated to be worth $12.9 million.
According to AXIOS News, seizures of fentanyl along the Texas – Mexico border increased by 1,066 percent in 2021. Texas CBP reported that from eight different entry areas, from Del Rio to Brownsville, 87,652 pounds of fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana were seized last year, with a street value of around $786 million.