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

contacts for this news release

Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations officers’ alertness this weekend at the Brownsville port of entry led to the discovery and seizure of more than $2.1 million in cocaine, and marijuana in three significant enforcement actions.

The first, a marijuana seizure, occurred at 9:24 p.m., on Friday at Gateway International Bridge. A vigilant CBP Field Operations officer referred a grey 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Guadalupe Benitez Garcia, a 23-year-old female U.S. citizen and resident of Houston, Texas for a secondary inspection. During the examination, CBP Field Operations officers noted discrepancies to the tires of the Chevrolet Silverado. An imaging system scan indicated anomalies within the tires. “Pascal,” a narcotic detector dog, further alerted officers to the odor of narcotics emanating from the Chevrolet. An intensive examination of the truck by CBP Field Operations officers revealed 16 packages containing a total of nearly 91 pounds of marijuana hidden within the tires of the Chevrolet Silverado.

The marijuana from this enforcement action has an estimated street value of nearly $91,000. The driver was arrested by CBP Field Operations officers and turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents who continue to investigate the seizure and processed the driver on federal drug charges.

The second, again a marijuana seizure, occurred on Saturday at Gateway International Bridge. CBP Field Operations officers referred a 1994 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Jesus Ramos, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen and resident of Brownsville, Texas for a secondary inspection. During the examination, CBP Field Operations officers observed discrepancies to the tires of the Suburban. “Diego,” a narcotic detector dog, alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle. A non-intrusive imaging system indicated anomalies in the tires of the Chevrolet Suburban. Further examination by CBP Field Operations officers of the Suburban resulted in the discovery of eight packages containing a total of over 44 pounds of marijuana concealed within two tires on the Chevrolet Suburban.

The marijuana from this seizure has an estimated street value of over $44,000. 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, Jesus Ramos was processed by Cameron County Sheriff’s Office on state drug charges.

The third, a cocaine seizure, took place on Saturday at 2:48 p.m., at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge. CBP Field Operations officers selected a 2002 Pontiac Aztec driven by Hugo Alberto Rodriguez Camarillo, a 20-year-old Mexican citizen and resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico for an intensive secondary inspection. During the examination, CBP Field Operations officers discovered discrepancies to the roof of the Pontiac Aztec. “Gulliver”, a narcotic detector dog, alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle. Further intensive examination by CBP Field Operations officers of the Aztec’s roof resulted in the discovery of 24 packages hidden within the roof of the Pontiac Aztec. The 24 packages contained a total of nearly 63 pounds of cocaine.

The cocaine from this seizure has an estimated street value of over $2 million. The driver was arrested by CBP Field Operations officers and turned over to the custody of ICE special agents who continue to investigate the seizure and processed the driver on federal drug charges.

“Continued vigilance by CBP Field Operations officers at the border is instrumental to the interception of dangerous narcotics and the protection of our Nation's safety. The work our officers perform makes us safer each day. This weekend’s interceptions further demonstrate the great job our frontline officers do,” said Michael Freeman, CBP port director at the Brownsville port of entry.

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.