Two busted for smuggling cocaine

August 12, 2008 - 2:50PM
Laura B. Martinez
The Brownsville Herald

Two separate drug busts at the Gateway International Bridge netted federal authorities about 75 pounds of cocaine.

The drugs have an estimated street value of $2.4 million, authorities said.

Both seizures occurred Monday about three hours from each other, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported.

The first bust netted seven pounds of cocaine that was hidden in the motor of a 1997 Dodge pick up truck driven by a Mexican national.

In the second seizure, authorities confiscated 68 pounds of cocaine that was hidden in the back wall of a Ford Explorer driven by a 30-year-old person from Houston.

The drivers were arrested by CBP agents and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents.