Man is arrested with 87 pounds of cocaine

A Brownsville man was arrested at the B & M International Bridge after he allegedly attempted to cross a sports utility vehicle with 87 pounds of cocaine, authorities said.

The seizure took place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday when 23-year-old Cristian Gerardo Gonzalez drove a 1997 Ford Expedition to a checkpoint at the bridge, said a U.S. Customs and Border Protection press release. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, as well as importation of a controlled substance. Gonzalez's wife and three children also were in the vehicle. They were later released.

A field operations officer at a checkpoint sent Gonzalez to a secondary inspection station where various officers noted discrepancies in the SUV's tires. A narcotics detecting canine named Pascal was brought to examine the vehicle and alerted officers to the presence of narcotics. Hidden inside the vehicle's tires, officers discovered 36 packages of cocaine weighing 87 pounds and valued at $2.8 million, the press release stated

"Sometimes people will do various things to distract officers; in this case he brought his wife and children with him," said CBP spokesman Eddie Perez. "This is when the officer's training comes into play."

Gonzalez was turned over for further investigation and prosecution to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.