see also: in March 2006 News Releases:   Customs and Border Protection Seized the Moment at Elementary School   CBP Donates Thousands of Seized Clothing Items and Toys to Those Affected by Hurricane Rita   Cooperative Effort Between CBP Border Patrol and Mexican Police Leads to Narcotic Seizure and Arrests   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Thwart Human Smuggling Attempt   Aduanas Y Proteccion Fronteriza Recomiendan Tramitar Con Tiempo Permiso I-94 Durante Semana Santa   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Urges Easter Holiday Travelers to Apply Early for I-94 Documents ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Sarita, Texas —U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Agents seized 924 pounds of marijuana and 29 pounds of cocaine in two separate seizures during the past eight days. The drugs were valued at $3,171,200 and two Brownsville, Texas residents were arrested.

On March 21, at approximately 2:45 p.m., agents at the Sarita checkpoint observed a blue Dodge Caravan enter the primary inspection area. During an immigration inspection of the occupants in the vehicle, a CBP canine team alerted to the exterior of the vehicle. Agents referred the vehicle to the secondary inspection area where agents observed that the front seats had been recently removed. A thorough search revealed two trap doors on the floorboard that concealed 29 pounds of cocaine valued at $2.4 million. The driver, a U.S. Citizen from Brownsville, Texas was arrested and turned over to the custody of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Corpus Christi, Texas.

On March 28 at approximately 2 a.m., border patrol agents observed a white International tractor-trailer enter the primary inspection area at the Sarita checkpoint. While a border patrol agent conducted an immigration inspection on the driver, a CBP canine team alerted on the tractor-trailer. Agents referred the vehicle to secondary where a search revealed 44 bundles of marijuana weighing 924 pounds and valued at $739,000. The driver, a resident alien from Brownsville, was arrested and turned over to the custody of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Corpus Christi, Texas.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection 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.