Laredo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Laredo Port of Entry seized hard narcotics valued at $6.5 million in two separate, unrelated enforcement actions at the World Trade Bridge.
“These interceptions aptly illustrate CBP’s ongoing commitment to keeping our borders safe and secure from illicit drug trafficking,” said Acting Port Director Eugene E. Crawford, Laredo Port of Entry.
The first enforcement action occurred on Monday, November 23rd when CBP officers assigned to the cargo facility encountered a stake bed truck manifesting evaporator machines from Mexico. The 2004 GMC/C4 stake bed truck and shipment were referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, resulting in the discovery of seven packages containing 226.19 pounds of alleged methamphetamine within the shipment. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $4,523,839.
The second narcotics interception took place on Wednesday, November 25th when CBP officers referred a 2003 International tractor hauling a flatbed trailer carrying a shipment of marble for a secondary inspection. CBP officers examined the shipment utilizing a canine and non-intrusive imaging system examination, resulting in the discovery of 119 packages containing 256.61 pounds of alleged cocaine concealed within the shipment. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $1,978,800.
The narcotics combined have an estimated street value of $6,502,639.
CBP officers seized the narcotics. The cases were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.