LAREDO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge and Juarez-Lincoln Bridge seized narcotics that totaled over $2.1 million in street value.
“Drug trafficking organizations are persistent in their attempts to smuggle hard narcotics into the United States," said Acting Port Director Andrew Douglas, Laredo Port of Entry. "Through hard work and vigilance we will continue to intercept these dangerous drugs at our port of entry before they can harm our communities."
more than three pounds of heroin seized by CBP
officers at Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo.
The first seizure occurred on Tuesday, October 6th, when a CBP officer assigned to the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge referred a 2007 Dodge Ram for secondary inspection. The vehicle was driven by a 24-year-old male U.S. citizen traveling from Mexico. CBP officers examined the vehicle utilizing a non-intrusive imaging system examination, resulting in the discovery of 29.14 pounds of cocaine within the vehicle. The narcotics had an estimated street value of $224,740.
The second seizure occurred on Wednesday, October 7th, when a CBP officer assigned to the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge referred a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse for secondary inspection. The vehicle was driven by a 54-year-old female U.S. citizen traveling from Mexico. CBP officers examined the vehicle utilizing a non-intrusive imaging system examination, resulting in the discovery of 3.30 pounds of heroin and 94.35 pounds of methamphetamine hidden within the vehicle. The narcotics had an estimated combined street value of $1,962,137.
The narcotics combined have an estimated street value of $2,186,877.
CBP officers seized the narcotics and both vehicles. The drivers were arrested and the cases were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.
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