CBP Officers at Eagle Pass Port of Entry Seize $2.2 Million in Cocaine, Intercept Previously Deported MS-13 Member
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Jan 29, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
EAGLE PASS, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry have seized $2.2 million in cocaine and apprehended a previously deported MS-13 member in separate, unrelated law enforcement actions this week. The most recent apprehension occurred Jan. 26 at Eagle Pass International Bridge (I) during an outbound examination. CBP officers encountered a 23-year-old male pedestrian, a Salvadoran citizen from Usulután , El Salvador with no valid entry documentation. During secondary examination, CBP officers discovered that the man, an alleged member of the MS-13 gang, had been previously deported in 2009. CBP officers processed him for alleged violations of immigration law.
The cocaine seizure occurred on Jan. 23 at Eagle Pass International Bridge (I). A CBP officer referred a 2003 Chevy Tracker driven by a 44-year-old male U.S. citizen from Austin for a secondary examination. In secondary, CBP officers conducted an intensive examination of the vehicle and discovered 15 bundles containing a total of 69 pounds of alleged cocaine in the rear part of the vehicle. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $2.2 million.
CBP officers turned the driver over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation and seized the vehicle and the contraband.
“These two significant enforcement actions illustrate the resolve of our frontline officers to keep our borders safe by interdicting contraband and detecting alleged violations of immigration law, in this case by an alleged MS-13 gang member,” said Cynthia O. Rodriguez, CBP Port Director, Eagle Pass.
