Border Crisis: Officers Seize Hard Narcotics Worth Over $3.4 Million in Laredo

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized hard narcotics in two separate unrelated enforcement actions that totaled over $3,400,000 in street value.

“Officers at the Laredo Port of Entry have heightened their narcotics interdiction and border security posture to combat drug smuggling attempts,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “Through targeted and proactive law enforcement activity, CBP employees help dismantle trafficking organizations and prevent their illicit products from entering the U.S.”

The first enforcement action occurred on June 14 at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, after CBP officers encountered a Ford F350 arriving from Mexico. The vehicle was referred for a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination, resulting in the discovery of 75.75 pounds of alleged methamphetamine within perishable goods. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $3,339,969.

The second enforcement action occurred later that day, at the World Trade Bridge, after CBP officers encountered an express consignment service truck arriving from Mexico. The 2012 Freightliner was referred for a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination, resulting in the discovery of 3.17 pounds of heroin within a cardboard package. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $126,984.

The narcotics together have an estimated street value of $3,466,953.

CBP seized the narcotics and one vehicle. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents are investigating both seizures.