LAREDO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) CBP officers at World Trade Bridge this weekend seized a significant quantity of methamphetamine comingled with a commercial candle shipment.
![A combination of meth and candles witha gross weight of nearly 736 pounds seized by CBP officers at World Trade Bridge](/sites/default/files/styles/webp_original_size/public/u412/736lbsmethandcandlesWTB12718.jpg.webp?itok=hKwTwDF6)
methamphetamine and candles with a
gross weight of nearly 736 pounds
seized by CBP officers at World Trade
Bridge.
“There is no limit to the lengths that transnational criminal organizations will go to try to smuggle narcotics into the U.S.,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. “This large interception underscores the seriousness of the drug threat and the resolve of our frontline officers and their effective use of experience and technology to zero-in on and stop these narcotics loads.”
On Jan. 27, CBP officers at the World Trade Bridge referred a 1997 Ford F-150 hauling a commercial shipment of wax candles for a secondary inspection. During the secondary inspection, CBP officers utilized a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system along with the help of a canine team to locate the narcotics. CBP officers discovered alleged methamphetamine commingled within the candles. The combined meth and candles has a gross weight of nearly 736 pounds. An accurate estimated street value is simply not possible due to the manner in which the narcotics were hidden.
CBP OFO seized the narcotics. The case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations special agents.