Laura Trevino, 31, and her two sisters Evelia Trevino, 27, and Adrianna Trevino, 23, are awaiting decisions of bail after appearing in federal court Tuesday morning.

Their mother, Maria Trevino, 59, was denied bond after her preliminary hearing.

The four women are accused of attempting to smuggle approximately 16.5 kilograms of cocaine Wednesday night through the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge.

Three of the women, Evelia, Adrianna and Maria, attempted to run back to Mexico when their 2006 Mercedes Benz ML350 was going through a second inspection, said Tomas Salazar, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent. He testified the three women wore "girdles" underneath their clothing that held cocaine packages.

The driver of the vehicle, Laura, also wore a girdle but didn't carry any narcotics. She was in a holding cell during the second inspection and later admitted to agents she had organized the smuggling, Salazar said.

lulloa@brownsvilleherald.com