see also: in January 2009:   CBP Officers Discover 957 Pounds of Marijuana in Concrete Pipes   CBP Canine Detects $600,000 Worth of Marijuana at Douglas Port   CBP Officers Seize $80,000 of Marijuana at Naco Port of Entry   Border Patrol Stops Vehicle, Leads to Meth Seizure   CBP Officers at Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge Seize Fake $20’s Found during Outbound Inspection   Border Patrol Agents Rescue Woman Injured in Car Accident   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest Wanted Sex Offender ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations officers at the Gateway International Bridge discovered over $45,000 in marijuana hidden within the spare tire of a GMC Jimmy; one U.S. citizen was arrested.

On Wednesday at 6:27 p.m., at the Gateway International Bridge, CBP Field Operations officers referred a white 1998 GMC Jimmy driven by Michelle Frances Anastacio, a 26-year-old U.S. citizen and resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico for a secondary inspection. During the secondary examination, CBP Field Operations officers discovered inconsistencies to the spare tire of the GMC Jimmy. “Sysco,” a narcotic detector dog, alerted CBP Field Operations officers to the odor of narcotics emanating from the GMC. A non-intrusive imaging system scan indicated anomalies within the spare tire. CBP Field Operations officers’ intensive inspection of the GMC Jimmy’s spare tire revealed packages with a combined weight of over 45 pounds of marijuana hidden within the spare tire.

The marijuana from this seizure has an estimated street value of over $45,000. The driver was arrested by CBP Field Operations officers and turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents. After thorough review of the case, Michelle Frances Anastacio was processed by Cameron County Sheriff’s Office on state drug charges.

“CBP Field Operations officers working with a K-9 team and a non-intrusive imaging system have intercepted another load of dangerous narcotics. Through coordination with the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office, the driver will face state charges in this case,” said Michael Freeman, CBP Port director in Brownsville.

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.