Del Rio Sector Border Patrol Agents Seize Cocaine Worth More Than $700,000

Eagle Pass, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Eagle Pass South Border Patrol Station seized more than 20 pounds of cocaine on Thursday, worth an estimated $768,000.

Shortly before noon Thursday, a 2002 Ford Sport Trac approached the primary inspection area of the permanent immigration checkpoint on Highway 57, north of Eagle Pass. During the immigration inspection a CBP canine, trained in the detection of illicit substances, alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

Agents referred the vehicle for intensive inspection, which revealed several electrical tape-wrapped packages of cocaine concealed in the passenger-side door panel. Agents recovered 10 bundles weighing a total of 24.37 pounds.

The case was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. So far this fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, 2013, the Del Rio Border Patrol Sector has seized more than 10,900 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $8.7 million dollars.

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.