Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Veterans’ International Bridge this weekend intercepted a significant load of methamphetamine. CBP officers discovered the narcotics, valued at approximately $1.3 million, molded into statues and hidden within the tires of a Ford Ranger.

On March 29, CBP officers working at Veterans’ International Bridge encountered a 2002 Ford Ranger driven by a woman. A CBP officer’s primary examination resulted in the vehicle and its sole occupant, 50-year-old Corinne Gilis of Fitzgerald, Ga. being referred for further examination.

CBP officers discovered four statues molded out of methamphetamine and 24 packages hidden within the Ford’s tires. CBP officers removed four statues which held a combined total weight of approximately 42.50 pounds and 24 packages from the vehicle’s tires which held a combined total weight of approximately 45.95 pounds of alleged methamphetamine.

The methamphetamine from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $1.3 million. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle and turned the woman over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation.

CBP officers discovered four statues molded out of methamphetamine.

“Brownsville CBP officers’ interception of these dangerous drugs is a direct result of their commitment to the safety of our nation’s borders. I congratulate our officers for this outstanding seizure and for the arrest of this would-be smuggler,” said Michael T. Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville.