CBP seizes $800,000 drugs, ammo

July 13, 2010 9:24 PM
Sylvia Butanda
The Brownsville Herald

U.S. Customs Border Protection officers seized $800,00 in cash, 8.5 pounds of heroin, handguns, ammunition and 7.2 pounds of cocaine in four separate and unrelated enforcement actions over the weekend, according to an agency press release.

On Friday, a 2008 GMC Sierra pickup was sent to secondary inspection by a CBP officer at the B&M International Bridge prior to crossing the bridge into Mexico. The driver of the vehicle was 33-year old Edgar Eduardo Garcia Gonzalez, a Mexican citizen from Matamoros. In secondary inspection, officers discovered $832,360 in cash hidden in the vehicle’s spare tire.

On Saturday, CBP officers at the same bridge referred a 1996 Dodge Ram pickup and its driver, Felipe de Jesus Gutierrez, a 31-year-old U.S. citizen from Brownsville, to secondary inspection. Officers seized six packages containing heroin that were found hidden in the vehicle’s battery. The heroin weighed 8.5 pounds and was valued at $687,835.

At Veterans International Bridge, a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country van and the driver, 57-year-old Jose Valadez Perez, a Mexican citizen from Tifton, Ga., were referred to secondary inspection on Saturday, as well. CBP officers seized two handguns, approximately 76 rounds of assorted ammunition and one magazine that were found hidden within the vehicle.

On Sunday at the B&M International Bridge, 43-year-old Jose Joaquin Herrera, a U.S. citizen from Brownsville, driving a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup was sent to secondary inspection. CBP officers seized three packages containing cocaine that were found hidden between the firewall and the driver’s side front fender. The cocaine weighed 7.2 pounds and was valued at $232,805.

In all four cases, the drivers were transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation. Their vehicles and discovered items were seized by CBP. All were charged for each of their felonies and are now in custody.

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