Officers Intercept $4.8 Million in Narcotics in One Day at the Texas Border

Laredo, Texas – Officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Laredo Port of Entry recently seized over $4.8 million in narcotics in three separate enforcement actions according to a recent press release. 

“The Laredo Port of Entry faced a difficult and busy day as our CBP officers demonstrated the highest standard of vigilance by disrupting the flow of illicit narcotics into our country,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry.  “The interception of these hard narcotics is a prime example of CBP’s layered enforcement implemented by our CBP officers on a daily basis.”

According to officials, all three seizures occurred on Tuesday, August 28. The first seizure occurred at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2016 Mazda 6 driven by a 26-year-old-female Mexican citizen from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to secondary for further examination.  A canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection by CBP officers resulted in the discovery of eight packages containing 20 pounds of alleged cocaine and 29 packages containing 49 pounds of alleged methamphetamine.

The second seizure occurred at the World Trade Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2012 Nissan pickup driven by a 59-year-old male Mexican citizen who resides in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico for a secondary examination. A non-intrusive imaging system and canine inspection by CBP officers resulted in the discovery of 24 packages containing 60 pounds of alleged cocaine and 10 packages containing 25 pounds of alleged heroin.

The last seizure occurred at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2000 Nissan Xterra driven by a 21-year-old male United States citizen who resides in Laredo, Texas for a secondary examination. Upon a non-intrusive and canine inspection by CBP officers resulted in the discovery of 11 packages containing 59 pounds of alleged heroin and 13 packages containing 48 pounds of alleged methamphetamine.

The seizures combined have an estimated street value of $4,863,674. CBP officers seized the narcotics along with the vehicles, arrested the drivers and turned them over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.