Nearly $2 million in drugs seized at Brownsville bridges

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nearly two million dollars in illegal drugs over several days.

The first seizure took place on Sunday, Jan. 10, at the Veterans International Bridge when a 59-year-old man from Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, drove from Matamoros to Brownsville in a 2007 Mercedes Benz autobus.

According to an agency news release, during a secondary inspection, a canine unit and imaging scan detected 58 packages containing 67.18 pounds of cocaine in the vehicle.

They say the second seizure happened on Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Gateway International Bridge when a 26-year-old Edinburg woman was arrested after crossing in a 2000 Honda Accord.

The release said officers found 20 packages hidden in the sedan that contained 23.32 pounds of methamphetamine.

On Friday, officers said they arrested an 18-year-old Brownsville teen at the Gateway bridge after he drove across in a 2008 Dodge Avenger.

During a secondary inspection, officers say they discovered 11 packages containing 27.69 pounds of cocaine and one package with 3.52 pounds of methamphetamine.

CBP officers seized all the narcotics and vehicles. The drivers were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.

The street value of the narcotics was estimated at $1,892,620.