FALFURRIAS —A Bay City couple is facing federal drug trafficking charges after authorities say they were caught transporting more than 345 pounds of suspected cocaine through a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in South Texas.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Luke David Brader, 80, and Susan Jordan Brader, 74, both of Bay City, were stopped on Wednesday, July 1, at the Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias during an immigration inspection.
Authorities said the couple was traveling in a white Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck towing a white enclosed box trailer when a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the front wall of the trailer. Agents then referred the vehicle to a secondary inspection, where an X-ray revealed what investigators described as a hidden compartment.
After opening the compartment, agents reportedly found 134 packages weighing more than 345 pounds. A field test indicated the substance was cocaine, according to the complaint.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration responded to the checkpoint and interviewed the couple. Federal investigators allege that both Luke and Susan Brader admitted they knew the narcotics were inside the trailer and told agents they expected to be paid between $5,000 and $10,000 to transport the trailer to Houston.
Both were charged in federal court with possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine. Although the amount seized was significantly higher, federal law establishes 5 kilograms as a threshold for the offense charged.
As of Monday, court records showed the couple remained in federal custody. They were scheduled to make their initial appearance in federal court today, July 7th. No attorneys were listed for either defendant at the time of the filing.
Bay City is located approximately 25 miles southeast of Wharton.
The allegations are contained in a federal criminal complaint. A criminal complaint is an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Source: Federal criminal complaint; U.S. District Court records.