Border Crisis: Officers Seize $11.8 Million in Cocaine at Border Entry

LAREDO, Texas—In three more large cocaine interceptions this week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Laredo Port of Entry seized cocaine valued at $11.8 million within tractor trailers in three separate enforcement actions.

“Within a four-day span, our frontline CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry seized a total of four significant loads of cocaine in the cargo environment; more than $19 million in cocaine in three separate interceptions,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “These seizures perfectly illustrate our officers’ firm resolve to uphold our border security mission and keep our community safe.”

The larger seizure occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, at the World Trade Bridge when a CBP officer referred a 2009 International tractor hauling a shipment of furniture for a secondary inspection. The tractor-trailer was referred for a canine and non-intrusive inspection system examination, resulting in the discovery of 285 packages containing nearly 718 pounds of alleged cocaine within the shipment. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $5,535,880.

A second seizure occurred on Tuesday when 545 pounds of cocaine were found in a 2020 Freightliner tractor-trailer hauling plastic ethylene sheets. Secondary inspection revealed 209 packages containing cocaine worth $4.2 million.

The third seizure occurred on Aug. 30, 2022, at World Trade Bridge. CBP officers referred a tractor-trailer hauling a shipment of steel rolls for a secondary inspection. A non-intrusive inspection system and canine examination yielded discovery of 110 packages containing a total of 270 pounds of alleged cocaine. The cocaine had an estimated street value of $2,084,200

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