“This interception of dangerous drugs and human smuggling exemplifies the teamwork of our officers working at our port,” said Port Director John Brandt, Eagle Pass Port of Entry. “Our officers employed a combination of observational skills and high tech tools to uncover this load and preventing it from going any further and halt these types of human smuggling attempts, all in a day’s work.”

On Dec. 24, CBP officers at the Camino Real International Bridge inspected a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with Mexican plates, driven by a male Mexican citizen, as it arrived from Mexico. Officers utilized a CBP canine and a non-intrusive imaging system for inspection, 70 bundles of alleged marijuana were retrieved within the bed liner of the vehicle. Officers seized a total of 229.55 pounds of alleged marijuana with an estimated street value of $45,909.

On Dec. 25, CBP officers at the Camino Real International Bridge inspected a 2007 Nissan Sentra, driven by a U.S. citizen woman, as it arrived from Mexico. A man, who was a passenger in the vehicle, presented a U.S. birth certificate to the officers. Upon questioning, CBP officers learned that the man was a Mexican citizen without legal documents to enter the U.S. and the woman allegedly provided the U.S. birth certificate to smuggle him into the U.S. illegally.

The 19-year-old man who was driving the Chevrolet Silverado, was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the vehicle and narcotics. The 33-year-old woman from Austin who was driving the Nissan Sentra, will appear before a U.S. magistrate for alleged violation of immigration law.